Erika Ann Cromwell
August 14, 1973 ~ August 8, 2020
Erika Cromwell, 46, Brandon, died Saturday, August 8, 2020, at Ava’s House in Sioux Falls due to Metastatic Breast Cancer.
Visitation with family present will be 9-11am, Saturday, August 22, 2020, with a Memorial service at 11am, at Brandon Lutheran Church.
In lieu of flowers, donations will be put towards her children’s futures, as well as donating to Metavivor, for Metastatic Breast Cancer Research.
Erika Ann Prahl was born on August 14, 1973, to Fred and Katherine (Green) Prahl, in DeSmet, SD. Erika was very active in high school. One of the many highlights was participating in Teen Age Republicans. She became a legislative page in high school, as well as completing an internship with the state legislature in college. She graduated from DeSmet High School in 1991, then furthered her education at USD, where she received her B.A. in Economics and Business, graduating in 1995. While attending college, she was a member of Alpha Xi Delta Sorority and was recognized as a top Economics major during her senior year.
Erika married Steven Dew in Sioux Falls in 1996, and they had two children; Jeffrey in 1998 and Rachel in 2003. Erika worked for a few different companies before going to work at First Premier Bankcard as a Credit Workflow Analyst for over 20 years. She was an active member of Brandon Lutheran Church. She also taught Junior Achievement classes for many years in the Brandon Valley School District.
Erika was diagnosed in 2012 with Stage 2 Breast Cancer. In October of 2014, she received word that she had progressed to Stage IV (Metastatic) Breast Cancer. Erika was determined to not let a diagnosis of terminal cancer dictate her life, and set about living life to the fullest.
Erika married Chris Cromwell on January 1, 2016, in Brandon. She and Chris loved to travel. Whether a family trip or just the two of them, they had many wonderful adventures together. They went to Chicago, and then on to Milwaukee for a Pink Concert. They traveled to Atlanta for a family trip, took trips to the Omaha Zoo, trips to Minneapolis, and went to Las Vegas to see Panic at the Disco.
Erika was known as the Queen of Transforming Leftovers, as she could turn anything into something awesome. At work, she was known as the Google Queen, finding whatever she or her co-workers needed to know through her in-depth searches. She loved family, family traditions, and family memories; acting as an unofficial family historian.
Erika started fundraising for breast cancer charities in 2013, completing her first walk after just completing 6 weeks of radiation treatment. She captained a team that was top fundraisers for years. In 2020, just a month before her death, she championed a fundraiser that raised over $1,000 for Metavivor, a charity that donates money to breast cancer research.
Erika will be deeply missed by her husband, Chris; two children, Jeffrey and Rachel Dew, Brandon; parents, Fred and Katherine Prahl, Lake Norden, SD; brother, Justin (Kyla) Prahl, Normal, IL; along with their sons, Toby and Zach; her lifelong best friend Lana Bornitz, Sioux Falls; and many cousins, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews.
I will miss your wisdom, your laughter. i can still see us all sitting in the lounge in the A Xi house. The last time we spoke was at the Miranda Lambert concert. I am so happy we had chance to see each other. Time is too short. Sisterhood is forever- I will be seeing you. Godspeed.
Erika was a sweetheart. I was already graduated but she showed nothing but caring towards anyone that needed it. Her mom was my teacher for years and. Kathy was always concerned her students did well. Erika picked up,this trait from her mother. Bless u all and know we send U hugs and prayers!!! Hugs and love for Fred and Kathy!!! My great grandmother was a Cromwell so I am looking forward to hearing more about the Cromwell side. Bless u all!!!
Our prayers to your family as you lay to rest your daughter, Erika, and celebrate her life that she share with all of you. May she Rest in Peace.