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Maureen DeSales Donohue - Share this obit - Print this obit
Maureen DeSales Donohue was born in Sioux City, IA on March 19, 1953. She was the youngest daughter of the late Parnell and Dorothy (Melicek) Donohue of Sioux Falls. Maureen graduated from O'Gorman High School and did attend college. Maureen died at Yankton, SD on November 5, 2025, still strong in her Catholic faith. She is now tapping with the angels.
Her family initiated a fund with the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation to offer support to families with mentally ill members. The Fund continues to serve to this day.
She is survived by two sisters: Mary Sue Donohue of Boca Raton, FL and Margaret Bruggeman of Sioux Falls; and a caring brother-in-law: Jerry Bruggeman of Sioux Falls; niece: Molly Robinson; and nephew: John Bruggeman.
A Memorial Service will be Monday, November 17, 9:00 AM at Barnett-Lewis Funeral Home with burial to follow at St. Michael Cemetery.
Donna Jean Jorgensen - Share this obit - Print this obit
Donna J. Jorgensen, age 82, was called home on November 5th, 2025, leaving a void for her loving family. She was born to William and Mary (Flemming) Jacobs on May 22nd, 1943. She attended many schools, while the family followed “Bill” building infrastructure, but returned to home base, Montrose, SD, where she graduated from high school and remained.
She married the love of her life, Larry Jorgensen, on November 24, 1962. Donna’s first priority was always Faith and family, raising four children and taking many active roles at Saint Patrick’s Catholic Church. She was a Mary Kay Lady, worked at the General Store, served as Post Master relief, and daycare provider at Citibank, and the closest to her heart… nanny for her grandchildren.
Donna was also active in the community, founding a women's club, The Busy Bee’s, that is still going on today, starting a boys’ club, the Redhawks, as well as helping the community garden. She enjoyed camping, fishing, flowers, sewing, baking, reading, and spending time with many friends, but most of all attending her grandchildren’s activities.
She had many talents and attributes and will be missed by all.
Grateful for sharing her life are her family: sons Scott, Brad of Montrose, Craig (Judy) of Dell Rapids, and daughter Shelly (Russ) Healy of Hartford South Dakota. Her nine grandchildren: Karlee Frost, Chloe Jorgensen, Makayla Millea, Christa Skauge, Colin, Carter, and Kianna Healy, Cole Jorgensen, and Kailee Reese; and her nine Great-Grandchildren (and counting); two sisters: Judy Donelan, and Mary Lou Wibersick. She is preceded in death by her husband Larry, her parents, and her beloved dog, Mitzi.
Visitation will be Monday, November 10, 5:00 – 7:00 PM at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Montrose. Mass of Christian Burial will be Tuesday November 11, 10:30 AM at St. Patrick Catholic Church in Montrose.
Bernadine - Share this obit - Print this obit
Bernadine Jo Johnson (Bernie), 80, of Renner, South Dakota, passed away Thursday October 23, 2025, at the Sanford Heart Hospital. Bernadine Jo Goeres was born October 17, 1945, to Lloyd and Cleo (Alkire) Goeres in Elgin, North Dakota. She was the fourth of five children. Her siblings were Barbara, Beverly, Beatrice, and Bradley. They lived on the farm in Grant County North Dakota until the house was moved into Lemmon, South Dakota so her older sisters could attend
high school. In the sixth grade they moved back to the farm with a moved in remodeled schoolhouse on the foundation of the previous residence.
High school in Lemmon included living with ‘Gram’ during the week and dad waiting on Friday afternoon to get his weekend worker. Graduation from Lemmon High School in 1963 was followed by a summer semester at Bismarck Junior College.
In 1965 she was married to Bernard E. Korang in Lemmon South Dakota, they also lived in McLaughlin, South Dakota and Hettinger, North Dakota where daughter Marcie was born October 8, 1969. After a divorce in 1974 and relocation back to Lemmon, she started working for a local attorney.
Bernie and Marcie moved to Sioux Falls in 1975. After arriving, she was back in the legal world working with lawyers in the George Qually Law Office. In 1978 Bernie and Marcie moved to Phoenix, Arizona, later in the year they moved to San Diego, California. She worked for another lawyer, Charles Shackelford, then for a government sub-contractor on Coronado Island. In the spring of 1979 they moved to Salinas, Kansas. Later in the year they returned to Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
In 1980 she moved to US government employment with the Small Business Administration Disaster Emergency office and then EROS Data Center in January 1981.
Starting her years at EROS as the secretary to the facility manager and later secretary to the chief computer branch manager. Her final position was to manage the SCIF and all the security clearances for the building. A heart attack in 2005 brought bypass surgery and in 2007 a retirement buyout offer was accepted.
Retirement brought her the new project of researching her father’s mothers’ line in her genealogy. This brought her to the Daughters of the American Revolution where she was an officer in the local chapter and an officer at the state level. The DAR has an affiliation with the Minnehaha Century Fund in providing docents for the historical cabin at the Sioux Empire Fair Grounds during the fair. Bernie would wear a homemade period dress as she worked the cabin and served the Minnehaha Century Fund as President as well as additional positions for that organization.
Bernie enjoyed taking her grandchildren on vacations. She took them to Dyersville, Iowa to see the Field of Dreams. They spent time out in the Black Hills at a cabin, and were able to see Mount Rushmore, Crazy Horse, and Devil’s Tower in Wyoming.
In her last decade Bernie loved being a member of the Sioux Falls Corvette Club. She inherited a 2002 convertible from her nephew in Montana and drove it home 1000 miles on I-90.
Bernie was an exceptional seamstress and made a black and white checked racing theme scarf (one of her favorite accessories) to wear at events and rallies. Bernie’s last three months were an extension of the organization and determination that she showed in all things she did. Through ICU and rehab she was planning her life at her house in town. Providing Steve with lists of items to do, prepare or consider in the new home.
From the location of her sewing machine, the arrangement of her home office or the 250th 4th of July party she envisioned including the food and guest arrangements, she was a planner, doer, helper in all she was involved in.
Bernie loved music, social gatherings, talking with family and friends. She will be forever loved and missed by those who knew her.
Bernadine is survived by her husband, Stephen, her daughter Marcie Buysman, Sioux Falls, SD. Her grandchildren Nick (Sara) Buysman, North Liberty, Iowa, and Lydia Buysman, Sibley, Iowa. Her great grandchildren Atlas and Lainey. One brother, Bradley Goeres, Morristown, AZ; one sister, Beatrice Baumeister, Watauga, SD. Bernie was preceded in death by her parents, Lloyd and Cleo Goeres, sisters, Barbara Westphal, Beverly Giannonatti, brothers-in-law, Herman Westphal, William (Bill) Giannonatti, Marvin Baumeister, Timothy Johnson.
Visitation will be Tuesday, November 11, 5:00 – 8:00 PM at Barnett-Lewis Funeral Home. a Memorial Mass will be Wednesday, November 12, 1:30 PM at the Cathedral of St. Joseph. A Celebration of Life will continue at the South Dakota Military Alliance after the Mass.
Roger Donald Michael - Share this obit - Print this obit
Roger Donald Michael was born in Mitchell, SD on March 23,1955. The youngest of four children he was easy going, kind-hearted, creative and musically gifted. He delighted in sports, especially watching the Minnesota Twins and Vikings play.
His true love was music, he would treat friends and relatives to his artistry with singing, piano and guitar playing. After high school graduation, he attended radio broadcasting school in Minnesota and returned to Sioux Falls where he was hired as a radio disc jockey at KXRB radio station. In earlier years, Roger showcased his songwriting talent and vocal prowess at various lounges in nearby areas. His love of music, the Church and his family carried him throughout his entire life. Now he sings with the angels. May God Bless you Roger. Love your family.
Roger is survived by his brother: Randall Michael; sister: Mary Michael-Church; two nieces: Anna Marie and Bernadette Church; and nephew: Heath (J'Lynn) Church.
The family of the late Roger Michael wishes to express our sincere appreciation for all the prayers, phone calls, and many acts of kindness shown during this difficult time. A special thank you to the caring staff at Southeastern Behavioral Health, Avera McKennan Hospital, and Prince of Peace.
Memorial Mass will be Friday, November 7, 10:00 AM at the Sacred Heart Chapel at the Cathedral of St. Joseph.
Rozann Barbara Helgeson - Share this obit - Print this obit
Rozann Barbara Helgeson, 72 of Sioux Falls, SD passed away at Ava's House on Saturday, October 25th, 2025.
Rozanne was born in Riverdale, ND to Rueben and Florence Christmann. She grew up and attended school on Garrison, ND and moved to Sioux Falls. She then attended school in Sioux Falls graduating from Washington High School.
Rozann married Allen Helgeson and worked for Raven Industries. Two children were born to this marriage: Daniel Quinn Helgeson of Moorehaven, FL and Robert (Bobby) Lynn Helgeson, deceased. The couple later divorced.
Rozann was preceded in death by her parents; her son: Bobby; her brothers: Richard and Charles Christmann, and her sister: LaDonna Christmann. Rozann is survived by three sisters: Melodee (Lonnie) Waters, Port Charlotte, FL, Michele Olesen, Sioux Falls, SD, and Mary (James) Buhler, Piedmont, SD; and one brother: Vernon Christmann.
A private memorial service will be held.
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.
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