Sioux Falls- Olene Degen, 91, died April 18, 2014, at the Good Samaritan Village in Sioux Falls, SD.
Funeral service will begin at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, April 22, 2014, at George Boom Funeral Home in Sioux Falls with burial to follow at the Franklin Cemetery in rural Lake County. The family will be present to greet friends one hour prior to the service.
Olene Jeanette Degen was born April 8, 1923 to Andrew and Ingrid (Rise) Langley in Hawarden, Iowa. Her mother died shortly after she was born and she was lovingly taken in and reared by Frank and Mary (Rise) Krull. She was baptized, confirmed, and married at Trinity Lutheran Church. She taught Bible School, Sunday school and sang in the choir there.
Olene was united in marriage to Wilbur Degen on December 24, 1943 in Hawarden, Iowa. The couple lived in Iowa until 1950. They moved to a farm south of Madison, South Dakota, which became their home for forty years. They enjoyed wintering near Salton Sea, California in their retirement years. Wilbur preceded her in death in 1990.
Olene graduated from Hawarden High School and attended Augustana College, after which she taught in a rural school in Iowa for three years. She continued her education at Dakota State University and taught third grade at the Chester Area Schools for several years. She was a former member of St. John Lutheran Church in Madison, South Dakota, where she served on the church council. She was a current member of Christ Lutheran Church in Hartford, South Dakota. She served as a Red Cross Grey Lady at Bethel Lutheran Home. She was active in the Delta Kappa Gamma Sorority in Madison and the Palm Springs Bible class.
Olene had a flair for decorating in bright, bold colors. She took pride in the flower gardens around her home. She welcomed visitors with smiles, laughter, and open arms; always having time to lend a listening ear. Memories of her will be cherished forever.
Olene died on Friday, April 18 at Good Samaritan Village in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of 91.
Thankful and blessed to have shared her life are her son, Dennis (Joan) of Hartford, SD; her daughter, Wanda Humphrey of Canistota, SD; her daughter-in-law, Cindy Degen of Rapid City, SD; six grandchildren, Tad (Kelly) Degen of Gypsum, CO, Dione (Brad) Krush of Rapid City, SD, Dayton (Tabatha) Degen of Rapid City, SD, Dusty (Sabrina) Degen of Beresford, SD, Tyson Humphrey of Canistota, SD, and Meredith Humphrey of Aberdeen, SD; seven great-grandchildren, Brylee Degen, Adrianna Krush, Ava Krush, Kailee Degen, Kaylee Degen, Kate Degen, Darren Degen; and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to Wilbur, she was preceded in death by her parents, her son, Donald, her brother, Leo Langley, and her sisters, Agnes Frahm, Edith Knutson, Marian Jennings, Lillian Arfsten, Alice Krull, and Florence Bennett.
Sioux Falls- Olene Degen, 91, died April 18, 2014, at the Good Samaritan Village in Sioux Falls, SD.
Funeral service will begin at 10:30 AM on Tuesday, April 22, 2014, at George Boom Funeral Home in Sioux Falls with burial to follow at the Franklin Cemetery in rural Lake County. The family will be present to greet friends one hour prior to the service.
Olene Jeanette Degen was born April 8, 1923 to Andrew and Ingrid (Rise) Langley in Hawarden, Iowa. Her mother died shortly after she was born and she was lovingly taken in and reared by Frank and Mary (Rise) Krull. She was baptized, confirmed, and married at Trinity Lutheran Church. She taught Bible School, Sunday school and sang in the choir there.
Olene was united in marriage to Wilbur Degen on December 24, 1943 in Hawarden, Iowa. The couple lived in Iowa until 1950. They moved to a farm south of Madison, South Dakota, which became their home for forty years. They enjoyed wintering near Salton Sea, California in their retirement years. Wilbur preceded her in death in 1990.
Olene graduated from Hawarden High School and attended Augustana College, after which she taught in a rural school in Iowa for three years. She continued her education at Dakota State University and taught third grade at the Chester Area Schools for several years. She was a former member of St. John Lutheran Church in Madison, South Dakota, where she served on the church council. She was a current member of Christ Lutheran Church in Hartford, South Dakota. She served as a Red Cross Grey Lady at Bethel Lutheran Home. She was active in the Delta Kappa Gamma Sorority in Madison and the Palm Springs Bible class.
Olene had a flair for decorating in bright, bold colors. She took pride in the flower gardens around her home. She welcomed visitors with smiles, laughter, and open arms; always having time to lend a listening ear. Memories of her will be cherished forever.
Olene died on Friday, April 18 at Good Samaritan Village in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of 91.
Thankful and blessed to have shared her life are her son, Dennis (Joan) of Hartford, SD; her daughter, Wanda Humphrey of Canistota, SD; her daughter-in-law, Cindy Degen of Rapid City, SD; six grandchildren, Tad (Kelly) Degen of Gypsum, CO, Dione (Brad) Krush of Rapid City, SD, Dayton (Tabatha) Degen of Rapid City, SD, Dusty (Sabrina) Degen of Beresford, SD, Tyson Humphrey of Canistota, SD, and Meredith Humphrey of Aberdeen, SD; seven great-grandchildren, Brylee Degen, Adrianna Krush, Ava Krush, Kailee Degen, Kaylee Degen, Kate Degen, Darren Degen; and many nieces and nephews.
In addition to Wilbur, she was preceded in death by her parents, her son, Donald, her brother, Leo Langley, and her sisters, Agnes Frahm, Edith Knutson, Marian Jennings, Lillian Arfsten, Alice Krull, and Florence Bennett.
