Rene Lorraine (Van Beek) Swanson
July 26, 1950 ~ July 21, 2017
Rene L. Swanson, 66, Valley Springs, died Friday, July 21, 2017, at her home.
Memorial Services will be 1pm, Friday, July 28, 2017, at Heartland Funeral Home.
Rene Lorraine Van Beek was born July 26, 1950, in Hendricks, MN, to Jake and Louise (Fountain) Van Beek. The family moved to Sioux Falls where she was raised. Rene graduated from St. Joseph’s Academy, Omaha, NE, in 1968. Rene married Gene Swanson in 1970 and eventually moved to Valley Springs, SD. The couple had three children. Rene worked at John Morrell for a few years and then became a sterilization tech at Sioux Valley Hospital for over 25 years, before she retired. In 1998, Rene married Tim Den Herder, and they merged their families to include two more children; Sadie and Nate.
Rene loved her morning TV game shows and her animals; especially her cat. Camping at Oakwood Lakes and hanging out with her children and grandchildren were her favorite pass-times. She also could usually be found at the “C.B.” in Valley Springs with her friends.
Rene will be deeply missed by her two children, Zach (Tia) Swanson, Valley Springs, and Sony (Nate Den Herder) Swanson, Garretson; seven grandchildren, Max Reyna, Dominik, Savannah, Danny, Gavin, and Owen; four siblings, Roger Van Beek, Rebecca Anderson, Rachel Brower, and Rhonda Censky; and special nieces and nephews that Rene and Gene chose to take in as their children also at some point in their lives, Scott, Mark, Sage, and Tessa.
Rene was preceded in death by her parents and one son, Owen.
Rene was a soft spoken sweet gal I met her at the Supply and Processing Dept at Sioux Valley Hospital many years ago. Joyce Jenen, Clarey, and myself all worked in the same department and we shared so many laughs together. What a kind sweet woman she was. May she rest in peace until one day we all meet again. My Deepest sympathy to her husband and children.