Jeanette Irene Etrheim
March 12, 1936 ~ June 23, 2013
Jeanette I. (Rislov) Etrheim, 77, of Sioux Falls, was very recently diagnosed with cancer and died on Sunday, June 23, 2013, at home following a short battle with cancer.
Memorial services will be held at 2:00PM, Saturday, June 29, 2013, at the Jasper Evangelical Lutheran Church with Pastor Obed Nelson officiating. Inurnment will follow at the Jasper City Cemetery.
Jeanette I. Etrheim was born on March 12, 1936, to Louis and Alma (Bonrud) Rislov in Dell Rapids, SD. She was raised and educated in the local area and graduated from Jasper High School. She married her husband of 56 years, Roger Etrheim on July 29, 1956. Roger was in the Army and stationed in Paris, France, during the Korean War. Jeanette stayed home with her first child until Roger returned. The couple then moved to Mankato, MN while he attended college and worked to support the family. Jeanette also started taking classes to become a teacher. Soon, the family moved to Des Moines, for Roger’s occupation. Jeanette began her teaching career in Iowa and received her master’s degree at Drake University. She retired after 30 plus years of contributing to the lives of so many young people through her teaching.
Upon their retirement, the couple moved to Bella Vista, AR, where they spent 17 years before returning to Sioux Falls in April 2013 to be closer to family. Jeanette loved to golf, and even had a “Hole in One,” sing, and play piano. In later years, she dedicated her time to playing piano at nursing homes, singing in choirs, scrapbooking, and volunteering at the food pantry.
Jeanette is survived by her husband of 56 years, Roger, Sioux Falls; two children, David (Dede) Etrheim of New Braunfels, TX, and Brenda Etrheim of Des Moines, IA; three grandchildren, Erick and Kyle Etrheim and Peter McDermott; and one sister, Elvira Grant of Mechanicville, NY.
She was preceded in death by her parents, one sister, Pearl, and one brother, Odean.
The family requests donations be made to her memorial in lieu of flowers.
Our condolences to the family of Jeanette. Jerome and Diane Olson, Egan, SD
Our thoughts and prayers are with you all. Jeanette was one of the HAPPIEST people I ever met. She always had a smile and shared her joy and love with so many people. Our family is so blessed to call her our “dear friend!” It must have been a joyous day in Heaven when Jeanette joined friends and family there!
Always a sad day when someone full of life leaves this world. Having grown up and seeing Roger, Jeanette, Brenda and David at virtually every holiday for my entire childhood, I never realized how unusual it was for someone to always be happy and charming. I did wonder a bit when my mom Shirley and Jeanette would talk just about all night on occasion, but that is what best friends do when they see each other.
Jeanette was a very special member of the Bella Vista Women’s Chorus. She will be missed by the membership, Director Larry Zehring, and Pianist John Robertson.
I have such wonderful memories of how kind Jeanette was when we worked together at Rice Elementary in Des Moines. Roger, I also remember how you found my first home for me and even helped move my piano from my second floor apartment to my home. With gratitude and prayers, Ann Beetner-Altoona, Iowa