On Thursday, June 11, 2020, Josephine Lou Brown, wife, mother, music teacher and friend, passed away at the age of 98. She was born August 18, 1921, in Kimball, South Dakota. Her parents, Henry Benjamin LuBean and Lillian LuBean named her Manilla LuBean. After her mother’s death, at the age of one, she was adopted by Sanford Clyde Washburn and Lillian Lalona (Crouch) Washburn who renamed her Josephine Lou Washburn. 

Josephine (Jo) was raised on a farm 10 miles south of Artesian, South Dakota in the Farwell community. She started her education in a one-room schoolhouse near her home. Following her graduation in 1939 from Artesian High School, she received an Associate’s degree in Music and Elementary Education from Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, S.D., in 1941. Jo then obtained a teaching position at an elementary school in Huron, S.D. Later, in 1958-59, Jo went back to Dakota Wesleyan University and received her Bachelor of Music and Education degree.

Because Jo showed an aptitude for music at an early age, she took piano lessons and became experienced enough to play for high school, college and church activities. She also loved to sing and was asked to sing and play the piano for many weddings and funerals. Later she taught herself how to play the organ so she could be an organist at Artesian Methodist Church.

Jo’s teaching career started in Huron, S.D., and she later taught in Artesian and the surrounding communities of Fedora, Forestburg, Carthage and Brookings.

When Jo was 16 years old, she met Edwin (Eddie) Clyde Brown, a young farmer from nearby Fedora, S.D. They married in Miami, Oklahoma on October 30, 1944, right before Eddie went to the European front in WWII. They were married for 68 years at the time of Eddie’s passing on February 5, 2013.

On November 15, 1958, Eddie and Joe welcomed their daughter, Terri Sue Brown, into their family. Terri Sue was born in Inchon, South Korea and was a war orphan.  

Eddie and Jo owned a farm in Artesian, S.D., until they retired in 1977 and moved to Sherman, Texas. They lived in Sherman for five years and then moved to Mesa, Ariz., where several of their S.D. friends and family spent the winters. Jo was in a band and performed constantly for dances at several of the Mesa area retirement centers. At age 96, she was still playing the piano at the nursing home where she spent her last couple of years.

Jo and Eddie are survived by their daughter, Terri Sue Brown Kirkpatrick and son-in-law, Bruce Kirkpatrick, of Montgomery, Texas, and two grandchildren, Traci Jo Kirkpatrick (Matthew) Older and Kyle Bruce (Krista) Kirkpatrick and seven great-grandchildren, Marc, Ayden and Elise Older, Jack, Dylan, Hudson and Karson Kirkpatrick and several nieces and nephews.

Jo’s brothers, Carl Sanford Washburn, Earnest LuBean, Charles Gunn, Raymond Loomer and sister, Ida Mae Bailey, all preceded her in death.

Shirley Effling, age 77, of Clear Lake, S.D., passed away peacefully on Friday, June 12, 2020, at the Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D.

Public visitation was 5 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, June 16th, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Clear Lake with a 7 p.m. prayer service. A private family Mass was held on Wednesday.   Burial was at the Lakeview Cemetery in Clear Lake.

Shirley Delores (Grunewaldt) Effling was born on June 19, 1942, in Woonsocket, S.D., to Walter and Retha (Schabot) Grunewaldt.  She grew up on a farm in Sanborn County and graduated from Artesian High School in 1960. She attended the School of Practical Nursing in Mitchell, S.D., and graduated in 1961 as an LPN. On June 1, 1963, she was united in marriage to John Raymond Effling at St. Charles Catholic Church in Artesian, S.D. They lived on a farm by Esmond, S.D., until 1971, when they purchased a farm near Strandburg, S.D. In the fall of 2005, Shirley and John moved to Clear Lake, S.D. Shirley attained a personal goal in 1991 when she graduated with a four-year nursing degree from Mount Marty College. With her nursing degree, she was able to fulfill her passion of caring for others.

Shirley was a lifelong member of 4-H and never missed a South Dakota State Fair. She volunteered at Holy Rosary Catholic Church in Kranzburg and St. Mary’s Church in Clear Lake. Her greatest joy was watching her grandchildren participate in all of their many activities, and she claimed many proud grandma moments. Crocheting was her pastime, making many blankets, doilies, hats and prayer shawls, which were given to others with love. 

Grateful for sharing her life are her husband John, Clear Lake, S.D.; her six children, Jim (Nancy) Effling, Clear Lake, S.D., LuAnn (JT) Weber, Lake Benton, Minn., Helen (Kevin) Geppert, Mitchell, S.D., Joe Effling, Saco, Mont., Ray (Marci) Effling, Britton, S.D., and Chris (Kristi) Effling, Highmore, S.D.;  21 grandchildren, Jenna (Mark) Braun, Ross Effling, and Ryan (fiancé Sophia) Effling, Jake (Amanda) Weber, Elizabeth (Josh) Fiedler, Garret (Kailey) Weber, Maria (Cade) Ophiem, Sara and Matthew Weber, Sydney (Garrett) Davis, Weston (Britney) Geppert, Kylee (fiancé Tyler) Geppert, Dylan Effling, Austin, Lyndsey, Carter, Emily and Olivia Effling, Cagney, Chesney, and Kenidey Effling; nine great-grandchildren, Ellie, Kollyns and Landon Braun, Abilene and Chisum Weber, Vidalia Fiedler, Adam Weber, Lawton and Conley Geppert; her sister, Sharon (Warren) Richie; brothers, John (Janet) Grunewaldt, Dale (Marlene) Grunewaldt; and numerous brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews, all very special to her.

She was preceded in death by a granddaughter, Chelsea Weber; great-granddaughter, Rae Ann Davis; and her parents.

Dorothy Louise (Henjum) Van Laecken, 79, of Sioux Falls, S.D., passed away on Sunday, June 14, 2020, at her residence surrounded by family.

A funeral Service will be 10:00 a.m., Friday, June 19, at Miller Southside Chapel, 7400 S. Minnesota Ave., Sioux Falls, S.D. There will be a graveside service at 3:00 p.m. on Friday at the Butler Cemetery, Letcher, S.D.

Visitation with the family present to greet friends will be from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., Thursday, June 18, with a Prayer Service at 6:30 p.m. at Miller Southside Chapel, 7400 S. Minnesota Ave., Sioux Falls.  For online obituary and guest register go to the website at www.millerfh.com.

Dorothy Louise (Henjum) Van Laecken was born October 24, 1940, in Chester, S.D., to her parents, Melvin and Mildred (Kapaun) Henjum.  She attended grade school at St. Anne’s Catholic School in Humbolt, S.D.  She graduated from Humbolt High School in 1958. Dorothy’s nickname in High School was “Thud” because she was always running late for class and made a thud sound when sitting down quickly at her desk.

After high school she moved to Sioux Falls, S.D., to attend Augustana College on a full paid scholarship.  After two years studying to become a concert pianist, she decided that being a mother took priority for her. While living in Sioux Falls over the years, she had various jobs from shoes sales and waitressing, to modeling for a local clothing store. She also lived in Sioux City, Iowa, and Kansas City, Mo. for periods of time in her younger years.

After many years of being a single mother, she was united in marriage on December 17th, 1980 to LeRoy “Red” Van Laecken of Letcher, S.D. They resided in Letcher for many years on a farm south of town.  When her husband decided to retire in 1999 from farming, they moved to an assisted living place in Mitchell, S.D. After her husband’s passing in 2001, she moved in with her youngest daughter and her family, who she lived with until her death.

Dorothy was a very resilient person with the life’s challenges that were presented to her.  She was the most giving person. She would give you her last dollar if you needed it. She would radiate positivity and when people would meet her they instantly loved her. Some of her family even thought of creating the Dorothy APP that was full of her positive sayings.

Some of Dorothy’s favorite things were eating ice cream, going out to eat, spending time with family, parties, camping at Lake Vermillion, feeding the ducks at Arrowhead park, going to the zoo, but most of all she loved the Lord.  She loved going to church or watching church on TV on Sundays. She constantly listened to 96.5. She had a strong faith, and enjoyed her life even though a lot of her life was not easy. 

Grateful for having shared her life are her children, Mary Hallickson, Travis (Missy) Henjum, Martha (Eric) Lang, Greg (Lana) Hallickson; her grandchildren, Aubrie, Alayna, and Ava Lang, Paul and Amber Heeren, Jerzy and Jacy Henjum, and Justin Hallickson; her great grandchildren, Nathan, Eve, and Ben Hallickson; her sister, Patty (Larry) Bjurstorm, numerous nieces, nephews, and friends.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Roy; brothers, Jim, Larry Henjum, Jerry Howard; parents, Melvin and Mildred; grandson, Paul; grandparents, Elizabeth and Fred Kapaun, and Nels and Jonetta Henjum.