Delores Shefte Archives - Big Sioux Media Sports Network

Alton Quam

January 22, 2017 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Alton Quam, 88 of the Sinai area died Saturday, January 7, 2017 at the Brookings Hospital in Brookings, SD. Funeral services were held on January 12. On-line condolences may be left at the Johnson-Henry Funeral Home website.

Alton Raymond Henry Quam was born on July 27, 1928 to Henry & Bernice (Thoreson) Quam. He was educated in the Sinai school system thru the 8th grade. He met Marjorie Jorenby in 1949 and they were married at the Sinai Lutheran Parsonage on February 24, 1950. They were married for 64 years. To this union 3 children were born- Arden, Marilyn & Marlys. The couple farmed and ranched for a few years before moving back to the Sinai community where he worked for Brookings County for 34 years running a road grader. Failing health had him living at Dakota Sun Assisted Living in Volga and then due to esophagus & swallowing problems he was moved to the Neighbors at Brookview Manor. His passions in life were: Marjorie, family & community, horses, trees, getting rid of weeds, doing anything outdoors, tractors, chain saws or anything with a 2 cycle engine and maintaining the Sinai cemetery. He loved hard work and only sat down to eat, visit, watch the weather or get a cat nap. He had many stories to tell about the history of the Sinai community. He took care of Margie 24-7 for almost 3 years after her brain surgery. He will be greatly missed by many family & friends. He was the last of his kind and they don’t make them like that anymore.

Preceding him in death are his parents, his loving wife Marjorie, one infant daughter and son Arden Quam, brother Laverne Quam. He is now finally at home with Margie.

Surviving members are: daughter-Marlys (Kermit) Micheel, Worland, WY, brother, Charles (Barb) Quam, Baltic, sisters Delores Shefte, Dell Rapids, Barb Hillestad, Sioux Falls, two granddaughters Jessica (Corey) Kremer, Sioux Falls, Danielle (Brian) Rossi, Lakewood, Co & grandson Nick Micheel, Boise, ID. Also two great granddaughters-Kalee Kremer and Valenciana Rossi. He also left behind a sister in law, Garnet Jorenby, brother in law Cliff (Deloris) Jorenby and brother in law Jim Watt and also many nieces and nephews and special friends who came to visit him these last few years.

Judy (Shefte) Van Dam

April 23, 2016 by Matt Larson, Big Sioux Media

Judy Lynn Van Dam, 57, of Montrose, lost her short but courageous battle with pancreatic cancer on April 15, 2016 at Avera McKennan Hospital. Funeral mass was held on Friday, April 22, 2016 at St. Patrick’s Catholic Church in Montrose. On-line condolences may be left at Kinzley Funeral Home.

Judy Shefte was born August 18, 1958 to Kenneth and Delores (Quam) Shefte in Dell Rapids, SD. She grew up on a farm near Dell Rapids and moved to town where she worked with her family at the Shefte Cafe in Junior High. She attended and graduated from Dell Rapids Public School.

On June 16, 1978, Judy married her best friend Floyde Van Dam in Dell Rapids. Floyde and Judy were blessed with two daughters and nearly 38 years of marriage. She was employed at Canistota Good Samaritan for the last 14 years as of April 8, 2016.

Judy is known for her caring heart, kindness and patience. She was a member of St. Patrick’s Catholic Church and St. Patrick’s Altar Society, where she served as Vice President and currently President. She enjoyed gardening, canning, baking, sewing, and doing crafts. Judy also loved spending time with her 3 grandsons outside, in the garden, and baking.

She is survived by: her husband, Floyde of Montrose; two daughters, Jill (Dan) McMurtrey of Winner and Stacy Van Dam of Overland Park, KS; three grandchildren, Hayden, Clay, and Ethan McMurtrey; mother, Delores Shefte of Dell Rapids; brothers and sisters, Karen (Dean) Skatvold, Bonnie Ahlers, Gail (Mark) Gannon, Jean (Mike) Bauman, Stuart (Kim) Shefte, and Kevin (Laura) Shefte; mother-in-law, JoAnn Van Dam; and 20 nieces and nephews. She was preceded in death by her father, Kenneth Shefte, brother-in-law, Frank Ahlers, father-in-law, Nick Van Dam, and several aunts and uncles. In lieu of flowers, the family would prefer to make a contribution in memory of Judy to the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network to assist other families facing this devastating disease