Valerie Jean Lange

May 10, 1959 ~ October 18, 2019

Valerie J. Lange, 60, Brandon, entered into her Heavenly home on Friday, October 18, 2019, at the Palisades Manor in Garretson.

Visitation will be 4-7pm, Thursday, October 24, 2019, with a Memorial service at 7pm at the Trent Baptist Church, Trent, SD.

In lieu of flowers, memorials can be made to the Avera Prairie Center for cancer treatment in Val’s honor.

Valerie Jean Pearson was born May 10, 1959, to Everett and Sylvia (Martina) Pearson and was raised in and graduated from Salem, SD. She then went on to Nettleton Business School.  Val worked at Sioux Steel in the Accounting Department before she moved over to Sioux Vocational.  While working there, she met the love of her life, Dave Lange.  They were married September 29, 1979 at Beaver Valley Lutheran Church. The couple resided in the Valley Springs area until 1993 when they moved the family (including two children; Katie and Sara) to rural Flandreau.  The family returned to Brandon, SD, in 1997.  Val went to work for Lewis Drug in Brandon in Customer Service and helped people with their photos.  Her nickname as the “Lewis Lady” was earned by being at work even after her shift was done to help “her customers”.  She was named the Lewis Drug Employee of the Year for her efforts. Val retired in 2015 for health reasons. 

Val was a gifted sewing and quilting person.  She made many baby clothes and wedding dresses.  She is also known for her baking and cooking skills. Cooking was not necessarily always a “great skill” for her, as she created many new recipes such as her “Mac n Cheese-Creamed Corn-and Spam Casserole”, “PB&J-French Toast”, or homemade “beef stew” that actually killed the stray cat she fed it to.  Val also loved to garden with flowers and vegetables.  She was even recognized for her talent with a photo in the local paper for the landscaping and gardening in her yard.

Val always was there to help anyone. She volunteered as a Sunday-school teacher, youth group leader, Vacation Bible School teacher, and member on several boards at her church, Trent Baptist Church, where she was a member since 1994.

Val will be deeply missed by her husband of 40 years, Dave; two children, Katie (Matt) Miller, and Sara (John Sundberg) Lange; three grandchildren, McKenzie, David, and Wesley; three siblings, Marilyn (Randy), Nancy (Dale), and Ronnie; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Val was preceded in death by her parents and one brother, Jim.

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