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Constance "Connie" Coughlin - Share this obit - Print this obit
On August 13, 1928 Constance (Connie) Irene Coughlin came into the world at a hospital in Columbus, Nebraska. She was the oldest of seven children born to Howard Thille and Verona, nee Deitering. Her folks lived on a ranch, 12 miles from Elgin, Nebraska at the start of the “sand hill” country. Her father worked for his father.
Connie had whooping cough as a baby. As a child she had little contact with strangers so she didn’t talk when she started school. Her Dad took her to school at a country school over a mile and a half from their house on the back of his horse. Connie said that she can remember her teacher telling her Dad that she still didn’t talk in school. Sometime after that she started talking. When she was in grade school, they used to go ice skating with their teachers during lunch hour. They also played baseball and were sometimes late getting back into school because the game wasn’t finished. There was an artesian well at the school, which is still there where the school used to be.
She was the fastest runner in the county and when she took state exams in the 7th and 8th grade, she got the highest grades in the county. She had to go to a neighboring town to give a valedictory speech at their graduation. She was so scared and they didn’t like her doing this, since she wasn’t from their school.
Life on the ranch did not have modern conveniences. They didn’t have electricity or indoor plumbing and they had out-houses. Her father would often hunt for meat for their dinner. They had fish, geese, ducks and turtles for our meals.
Since she was the oldest child, she did a lot of chores around the ranch that girls rarely did. One time, she was raking in a field behind a team of horses, when they ran over a bee’s nest. The horses bolted, turned over the rake and she sprained her arm. She learned how to drive on a farm truck, pulling hay racks or other equipment.
She went to high school at Saint Boniface in Elgin, Nebraska. The first year she stayed with her aunt and uncle (Lucille and Art Dietering). Her grandmother (her dad’s mom) also bought a house and moved into town. It took about an hour to walk to school from their house. After that, her mom moved into town and all the kids moved to town with her. For fun they played games in the evening, but Connie would tell her grandmother that she was going to study with friends.
In the evenings she played games until it was too dark to see, with the other young people in town. One of her friends was a boy who had a car and sometimes they would pile into the car (3-deep) and go out to the little Elgin airport to chase rabbits on the landing field.
After high school she went to Creighton Memorial Nursing Hospital Omaha for Nursing school. She would have rather been a doctor, but the family resources were tight and at that time it was a hard career for a woman to enter. She was in nursing school for 3 years. After graduating she went to Saint Joseph’s hospital in Omaha. She worked on a floor where Creighton students were kept and it was there that she met her future husband, Tom Coughlin. He was in the hospital for an appendix operation.
A bit later she started to date Tom. She told her family “I had to date him since he wouldn’t leave me alone”. She wasn’t ready to get married yet, though. They dated about two years before they got married. She had been dating someone before she met Tom (a Veterinarian from Elgin) and she continued to do so after she met Tom for some time. Tom and Connie were married in 1952.
After graduating from Creighton, Tom took a job with General Adjustment Bureau. Tom and Connie moved to Aberdeen in Northern South Dakota for a while and then moved to Chamberlain, South Dakota where Tom Jr was born in 1955. When they first moved to Chamberlain she cooked on a hot plate and had a hard time finding a good apartment.
They moved to Creston, Iowa in 1956 where her son Dan was born in 1957. When Dan was young, he got a high temperature and a doctor came out to our house to treat him. They moved to Ottumwa, Iowa from Creston and stayed there about 3 years (until 1960). They moved from Ottumwa to Carroll, Iowa and stayed there for seven years. Carroll was the most fun. Tom Jr, and Dan both went to St. Joseph’s school. Tom Jr. became a good friend of Monsignor Lynch (he was from Ireland). St. Joseph was combined with St. Peter and Paul school and then the boys went to school there. Connie sang in the choir at St. Josephs (and also sang in the choir when she lived in Elgin).
Connie stopped working while the kids were small, but when the youngest started school she went back to nursing. She worked nights so she could be there when they left for school and when they got home.
While living in Carroll, her family always participated in the Rolling Hills Estate 4th of July celebration, where they built a house in Rolling Hills after living in another house for a couple of years. Connie was the Den Mother for her boy’s cub scout pack for several years. Tom Jr. and Dan were also in Boy Scouts while they lived in Carroll and went on campouts and hikes, often with Tom Sr. and other dads going with them.
The family moved from Carroll to Sioux Falls, South Dakota in 1968. Tom Sr. wanted to live near his mother and they ended up buying a big old house on South Prairie Ave that needed a lot of work. Tom Jr. and Dan went to the local Cathedral Grade School and then attended O’Gorman High School.
When the family moved to Sioux Falls, she worked as a surgical nurse. Sometimes she would tell my family about the injuries people had. When her son, Dan, got a motorcycle at 18 she told him about very bike accident head injury she worked on (Dan always wore a helmet when he rode). In the 1990’s she switched to the Obstetrics Department. Dan and Tom Jr. figure that she wanted to finish her career holding babies rather than human innards.
Connie retired in 1999 but she continued to do volunteer work at the hospital for many years after that. She also dedicated herself to genealogy work on her and her husband’s families and worked with the Sioux Valley Genealogical Society in Sioux Falls. In 2006 and 2007 she visited Massachusetts and Ireland looking for information with her son Tom. The visit to Ireland was part of a longer trip to England and Ireland where Tom was giving some lectures for the IEEE in Plymouth, Oxford, York and Galway.
Tom Sr. and Connie had been members of the United Commercial Traveler’s for many years and Connie served a while as the UCT Grand Counselor for South Dakota. She was also a cub scout den mother, served on the Avera Auxiliary after she retired from McKennen and helped at HR Block for people who couldn’t afford to pay to have their taxes done. She was also a member of the Catholic Daughters.
Connie had always been involved in sowing and making quilts. She made shirts and quilts for her immediate and extended family. Many of these quilts were gifts for graduations and other important events.
Tom Sr. and Connie moved from South Prairie to a smaller house on Charlotte Ave in Sioux Falls. in 1998. Dan and his family lived in her old house on Prairie. Her husband Tom Sr. died in 2001 and Dan and his family moved to the house next door to hers on Charlotte in 2015.
Connie was preceded in death by her parents: Howard and Verona Thille; her siblings: Kate, Howard, Donald, Marie and Doris, as well as her daughter-in-law: Kathy Talley Coughlin. Connie is survived by: sons: Tom (wife Fran) and Dan Coughlin; sister: Joan Wentworth; grandchildren: Will and Ben, Bridget and Rick; numerous cousins, nieces and nephews; and many friends made through the years.
Visitation will be Monday, November 3, 5:00 PM at Barnett-Lewis Funeral Home with a Scripture Vigil and Rosary at 6:30 PM with presents by the South Dakota Nurses Honor Guard. Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday, November 4, 10:00 AM at the Cathedral of St. Joseph with burial to follow at St. Michael Cemetery.
Bernadine Jo Johnson - Share this obit - Print this obit
Bernadine Jo Johnson, 80, passed away October 23, 2025 at the Sanford Heart Hospital. She was born on October 17, 1945 to Aloysius and Cleota (Alkire) Goeres.
Bernadine is survived by her Husband, Stephen.
A complete obituary is pending.
A Memorial Mass is pending for the third week in November.
Nancy Ann Hall - Share this obit - Print this obit
Nancy Hall passed away at age 93 after a long illness from complications of a stroke and Parkinson’s Disease on October 17, 2025 at Sioux Falls Good Samaritan Village. Visitation will be 5 to 7 PM on Thursday, October 23 at Barnett-Lewis Funeral Home with Rosary at 6:30. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM at St. Michael Catholic Church on Friday, October 24.
Nancy was born on January 31, 1932 in Mitchell, South Dakota to Leonard and Eva Small. During the Depression, her family moved around to Parkston SD, O’Neill Nebraska and Gregory SD before returning to Mitchell. Nancy said she looked on these moves as an adventure to see what the new house, school and church would be like. Her adaptable nature served her well all her life.
In Mitchell, Nancy attended Notre Dame Grade School and graduated from Notre Dame High School where she was the homecoming queen. Her high school class was not large but kept in touch and she attended many reunions with them over the years. During high school, she worked at G.F. Buche’s Department store and after graduation, she attended Notre Dame Junior College studying secretarial skills and then worked in offices of Farmers Union Insurance and A.F. Smith in Mitchell.
A friend from high school, Mary Jean Dunn, invited her for a weekend visit to USD Vermillion where she met Ed Hall. She decided he was a good catch and they were married June 29, 1953. Jerry and Mary Jean Bollinger were close friends all their lives.
To this union, 6 children were born: Patricia, Thomas, Joseph, Sandra, David and Barbara. Ed worked all his life after USD graduation at the local Caterpillar Tractor dealership and they started life in Sioux Falls, moved to Brookings for about a year, then back to Sioux Falls in 1961. They were married for 57 happy years and Ed even bought a billboard on Minnesota Avenue to wish her Happy Anniversary one year.
Ed had the travel bug and so Nancy and Ed took many family car vacations around the U.S. and traveled to Spain, England, France, Costa Rica, including Hawaii and a cruise to Alaska.
Nancy became wonderful wife, homemaker and mother. She was multi-talented and learned every craft that was popular, macramé, antique furniture refinishing, water color painting, and many more. She started sewing as a child and was an excellent seamstress all her life. She hosted in-home craft shows with friends to sell her beautiful creations. She was an Avon lady and Girl Scout leader in her spare time. She became a gourmet cook and was Cook of The Week in the Argus-Leader. Her athletic skills were amazing because she learned to play golf, tennis, and bowling as an adult and was good at all of them, earning 2 Holes-In-One within less than a year. Nancy was a real gamer and was competitive at Bridge and Mahjong which she enjoyed with her friends for years. After her Parkinson’s diagnosis, she had to give up athletics but faithfully attended Rock Steady Boxing class which helped her stay strong.
Nancy was active in church activities and was proud of her Catholic Daughters organization membership for more than 60 years. She was in St. Mary’s Altar Society and sang in the Church choir faithfully for many years at St. Mary’s.
Nancy is survived by her 6 children: Patty McElhaney (Dwight), Sioux Falls; Tom, Los Angeles, CA; JB (Shannon), Loveland, CO; Sandy, Sioux Falls; Dave (Sue), Shoreview, MN, and Barb Herzog (Mike), Forest Lake, MN; and one sister: Lenore Barnett, Escondido, California. She is also survived by 4 granddaughters: Jenny, Aubrey, Risa, and Eva; 4 grandsons: Ethan, Andrew, Liam and Evan; and 2 great-granddaughters. She was preceded in death by her husband: Ed; her parents; sister: Audrey Olson, brother: Darrell Small; and grandson: Coby Herzog.
The family wants to extend thanks to all the dedicated kind staff at The Inn on Westport, Prairie Creek Memory Care and Good Samaritan Village Skilled Nursing for their wonderful care of Nancy.
Memorials may be directed to Furniture Mission in Sioux Falls who were a wonderful blessing during Nancy’s moves, The Parkinson’s Foundation, Bishop O’Gorman Catholic School Foundation, or your favorite charity in her name.
Corby Duff Nelson - Share this obit - Print this obit
Corby Duff Nelson, 75, left to meet his maker on October 7, 2025. He died at his home in St. Paul, MN with his outstanding caregiver, Tanazia, at his bedside.
Corby was born in Junction City, KS. He moved to Sioux Falls at a young age where he attended, played football and graduated from Washington High School. His love of football continued throughout his life. Football was just one of his many interests. In the sports world, fishing held a pretty high ranking as well. John Wayne movies were #1 in his eyes. Toy army men, at a very young age, were not only a plaything but became a crafting project where he glued war scenes onto boards and displayed them in his home. Even in his later years Corby would ask for army men for Christmas; however, they had to be a specific green, a specific brown, and a specific texture.
In this mid 20's, Corby suffered from two massive blood clot strokes which inevitably led to loss of field vision, loss of some coordination, loss of walking ability, and loss of independence. He, however persevered with his fun quirks and his total devotion to his family, which included extended family members.
A loving bunch of thanks to Tanazia and the staff at the Clinton House in St. Paul for their care of Corby.
He is preceded in death by parents, Max and LaWanda Nelson, brother Don Nelson, brother-in-law Tom Doese, and special friend Char. Survivors include his sisters Linda (Seth) Rosenbaum, Jackie Doese, Rhonda (Rod) Loe and sister-in-law Carol Nelson. Nephews Drew (Marielle) Rosenbaum, Ken (Allison) Nelson, T.J. (Cain) Doese: Nieces Tara (Tyler) McFarland, Veronica (Taylor) Doese, Melanie (Jeremy) Brinkman and Christine Nelson.
Visitation will be Wednesday, October 15, 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM at Barnett-Lewis Funeral Home. A Memorial Service will be Thursday, October 16, 10:30 AM at Barnett-Lewis Funeral Home.
Paul Douglas Aaseng - Share this obit - Print this obit
Paul Douglas Aaseng, 47, of Brandon, SD, passed away in his home of natural causes on Saturday, October 4, 2025.
Paul was born in Sioux Falls on June 24, 1978 to Douglas and Vicki (Driessen) Aaseng. He grew up in Brandon, graduating from Brandon Valley High School in 1997. Paul participated in wrestling from a young age through junior high. He played football until graduating from high school.
An avid sports enthusiast, he could be found watching anything from college football and basketball to his favorite NFL team, “Da Bears”. He and his son, Jake bonded over their shared love of sports and watching games together on TV. Paul’s love for cooking and grilling was matched only by the joy he found in sharing those meals with his family. Two of his most famous meals were stromboli and ribs. One of Paul’s favorite pastimes in the summer was camping. Many happy memories were made with each trip. He loved his children with all of his heart and his grandchildren filled his days with joy and laughter. Paul was known for his sarcastic sense of humor which he shared with anyone and everyone.
Paul married the love of his life, Amanda Mead on April 20, 2006. They began their lives together in Sioux Falls, SD and Hartford, SD before settling in Brandon, SD. He worked for Furniture Mart USA for 16 years, delivering and assembling furniture.
Paul was preceded in death by his grandparents and his son, Noah. He is survived by both parents, Amanda, his three kids, Kaitlyn (Cole) Hodges, Domenic (Alexis) Aaseng, and Jakob Aaseng, two grandchildren, Greyson Hodges and Sophia Aaseng, his brother, Lee (Janet) Aaseng, his sister, Angie (Allen) Dunkelberger, and many nieces and nephews.
A Celebration of Life will be held Friday, October 10, 2025 at Barnett Lewis Funeral Home at 10:30 with burial to follow at St. Michael’s Cemetery.
Kristine “Kris” Kay Offerdahl - Share this obit - Print this obit
Kristine “Kris” Kay Offerdahl, 66, of Sioux Falls, SD, passed away peacefully on Saturday, October 4, 2025. She was born on December 8, 1958, to Gordon and Jane Ellison in Canby, MN.
Kris spent her early years in Canby before moving to Canton, SD, and eventually settling in Sioux Falls. She worked at Hy-Vee for over 20 years, where she built lasting friendships and was known for her hard work and warm smile. After retiring, Kris found her true passion as a caregiver, devoting herself to helping others. She cherished the people she cared for, treating each of them like family.
A proud Minnesota Twins fan, Kris loved watching games—whether at the ballpark or on TV. She enjoyed taking walks and found comfort in the company of her five beloved cats. Nothing made her light up more than talking about her children, stepchildren, grandchildren, step-grandchildren, and “grandpups.”
She had a gift for conversation, creating a welcoming and nonjudgmental space for everyone she met. While she was known for her honesty and straightforwardness, she had a remarkable ability to make people feel seen and valued. Kris was also a dedicated and active member of AA. One of her greatest accomplishments was maintaining over 30 years of sobriety. She served as a mentor and source of strength for many, always willing to support those walking a similar path.
In September 2021, Kris married the love of her life, Vern Offerdahl. Although their time together was brief, those years were among her happiest.
Kris was preceded in death by her husband Vern Offerdahl, father Gordon Ellison, and sister Karen Koll. She is survived by her mother: Jane Ellison; children: Roy Aasheim (Aurora) and their children: Tayten and Bentley; and Misty Taylor (Ryan) and their children: Hayden and Hunter. She is also survived by her stepchildren: Holly Peters (Tim); Laura Harris (Pat) and their children:
Daniel, Ellie, Joey, and Andrew; and Brian Offerdahl (Erin) and their son: Tristan. She leaves behind her siblings: Mark Ellison (Rhonda Weidert) and Mike Ellison, along with many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial donations be made to the Sioux Falls Humane Society in honor of Kris’s love for animals.
A Celebration of Life will be held Thursday, October 9 at Barnett- Lewis Funeral Home with family present at 1:30 PM, service at 2:30 PM and a luncheon to follow.
Robert William - Share this obit - Print this obit
Robert William "Bob" Oster 93, of Sioux Falls died Tuesday, October 2, 2025 at Department of Veterans Hospice Cottage. He was born March 2, 1932 to Scotty and Della (Murphy) Oster in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
He met the love of his life Charlotte (Larscheid) Oster at Cathedral High School in 1951. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1952. He then served his country stationed in Korea during the Korean War. After discharge from military service in January 1954, he returned to Sioux Falls and married his High School Sweetheart Charlotte on October 9 of that year. Bob was a carpenter for 42 years working in and around Sioux Falls.
Bob was a charter member and volunteer in St. Mary's parish. He also volunteered alongside his wife delivering Meals on Wheels. He was a lifetime member of the DAV. The family spent 18 summers at a cabin enjoying lake life. Some of his interests include first his family and friends, along with hunting and fishing.
Grateful for having shared his life with his wife: Charlotte; and their children: Mary Rose Oster, Ted and Ilona Oster, Pensacola Florida, Rock and Sherri Oster Sioux Falls, Bernadette and Steve Willuweit Sioux Falls, Matt and Beth Oster Lusby Maryland; 19 Grandchildren and 24 Great- Grandchildren. Bob was preceded in death by his parents, 4 sisters and two grandsons.
Bob was a wonderful husband, father, father-in-law, Grandpa, Great Grandpa and Friend. Bob will be sorely missed.
In lieu of flowers the family requests donations be made to DAV Hospice Cottage Sioux Falls SD.
Visitation will be Wednesday, October 8, 5:00 PM at Barnett-Lewis Funeral Home with a Rosary at 6:30 PM. Mass of Christian Burial will be Thursday, October 9, at St. Mary Church.
Darlene Evelyn Katzenberger - Share this obit - Print this obit
Darlene Katzenberger, 94, passed away Monday, September 29, 2025, at Dougherty Hospice House. Darlene Evelyn Beck was born April 6, 1931, to Joseph and Nettie (Sechser) Beck.
She was united in marriage to John Katzenberger on August 3, 1955. They were blessed with five children.
Darlene is survived by her children: Jane (Rich) Reuwsaat, Karen Borden, Lori (Mike) McCoy, and Tim (Teri) Katzenberger; her grandchildren: Jill (Mark) Jensen, Barry Reuwsaat, Sarah Miller, Eric Roach (Dawn), Jared (Sara) Roach, Adam (Sam) Roach, Shane Swenson (Kendra), Brad Borden, Kayla Gulbrandson (Ashton), and Kyle (Haley) Gulbrandson; and great-grandchildren: Jake, Jackson, Nolan, Kaiah, Madison, Haley, Ainsley, Edward, Evelyn, Legend, Anella, Creedance and Kashton. Darlene was preceded in death by her husband John, daughter, Lynne Swenson, son in law, Art Borden, grandson, Brian Borden, grandson in law, Jeremy Miller, her parents, and two sisters, Loretta (Lloyd) Garner and Ellen (Ken) Mathieu.
Visitation will be Thursday, October 2, 2025, 5:00 PM at Barnett Lewis Funeral Home with a Scripture Service beginning at 7:00 PM. A Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM on Friday, October 3, 2025 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church.
Elizabeth “Betty” Lou Allmendinger - Share this obit - Print this obit
Elizabeth “Betty” Lou Allmendinger, age 94, passed away on September 20, 2025. She was born July 4, 1931, daughter of Alva and Lydia (Dobrick) Bain.
She married Melvin E. Allmendinger in 1952 at Luverne, Minnesota. The couple made their home in Sioux Falls, SD. Betty worked a variety of amazing jobs while retiring from a clerical position at Citi Bank, Sioux Falls, SD.
Betty loved gardening, while always keeping her lawn green and weed free. Playing cards with her family was her joy, while hosting several yearly family events. She made frequent trips to the Dollar Store, she loved a good bargain. As she entertained her yearly rummage sale, she would light up like a firefly, if only making $5.00. She would generously help anyone in need.
She had an altruistic heart, and was loved by all. She will truly be missed and never forgotten.
Grateful for having shared her life with her daughters: Terry (Lee) Goos, Robin Kott, and Valerie Woods, all of Sioux Falls, SD; and eleven siblings, Kathleen Allmendinger of Sioux Falls, SD, Carol Grovenburg, Michael Bain, and Susan (Robert) Sayer, all from Aberdeen, SD; four grandchildren; Charles Kott, Jr. of California, Michael Kott of California, and Lee Goos, Jr. of Hartford, SD; five great- grandchildren: Haley Kott, Hannah Kott, Katelyn Kott, Olivia Kott, and Jannelle Kott, all from California. She was preceded in death by her parents, her siblings, Ella Mae Bain, Arnold Bain, Mary Pudwill, Donald Bain, Robert Bain, Shirley Freeman, Larry Bain and granddaughter, Jacqueline Goos, taken to soon.
A Funeral Service will be Tuesday, September 30, 10:30 AM at Barnett-Lewis Funeral Home with burial to follow at Hills of Rest Cemetery.
Melissa Ann Kowalski - Share this obit - Print this obit
Melissa Ann Kowalski, 44, passed away September 17, 2025. She was born on December 26th, 1980 at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD to Jerry and Karen (Graves) Kowalski.
Over the years Melissa loved playing the Clarinet in band especially in High School Marching Band, where she lettered in. Melissa was so happy to head to Florida with the band for the 25th Anniversary Celebration to participate in their parade.
Melissa enjoyed history, especially World War 2, Greek Mythology. She loved scary movies, true crime, and music.
Melissa had four beautiful kids: Krystoffer, Jerry, Alayna, and Beth. She was preceded in death by her older sister, Kristen Kowalski who died at sweet 16 on June 16th, 1991; grandpa Kowalski in 1980, grandma Kowalski in 2003, uncle Greg in 2024, and another uncle and aunt.
She will be forever missed and loved, remember her with a smile because she would try to have a smile on her face every day and cheer people up.
With Love, the Kowalski Family
A Memorial Service will be Monday, September 29, 10:30 AM at Barnett-Lewis Funeral Home.
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