Jean Audrey Den Herder

PLEASE NOTE SCHEDULE CHANGE DUE TO WEATHER

Jean Audrey Den Herder, age 87, of Valley Springs, passed away March 9, 2026, at the Avera McKennan in Sioux Falls. Funeral services will begin at 1:00 PM Wednesday, March 18, 2026, at First Lutheran Church, Valley Springs. Visitation will be from 5-7:00 PM Tuesday, at the Minnehaha Funeral Home, Garretson.

Jean was born on July 9, 1938, Nels Oliver and Irene L. Swenson. She grew up near Garretson and graduated from Garretson High School. On August 6, 1958, she married Kenneth “Skeeter” Den Herder at Palisade Lutheran Church outside of Garretson. They lived in Valley Springs where Jean was bookkeeper for the Valley Springs Farmers Coop for over 33 years. She retired in 2008. Skeeter passed away on July 21, 1990.

Jean enjoyed spending time at the family cabin on Big Stone Lake. She traveled to Hawaii and North Carolina and loved spending her winters in Arizona. She enjoyed dancing, visiting friends and family, and seeking out the closest lutefisk feed.

Jean is survived by her children: Tim Den Herder, Tammy Den Herder, and Troy Den Herder, all of Valley Springs; grandchildren: Sadie (Keith) Den Herder Elsberry, Garretson, Loraea (Randy) Krull, Beaver Creek, Larissa (Jordan) Walker, Valley Springs, Trent Lunt, Sioux Falls, and Sony Swanson, Garretson; great grandchildren: Gavin and Owen Den Herder, Garretson; Aurora Walker, Sioux Falls, and Alyssa, Tamie Kay, Rilynn, and Gracelyn Krull, Beaver Creek; sister, Marleen Swenson, Madison; and many other relatives and friends. She was preceded in death by her parents; husband, Kenneth “Skeeter”; grandson, Nathan Den Herder; and sister, LaVonne Sorenson and Lorna Sunde; and her very special and cherished boyfriend for 14 years, Donald Van Bockern.

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