Elaine Hedberg Obituary

Elaine Shirley Hedberg, age 84, passed away Saturday, March 22, 2025. at the Neighborhoods at Brookview in Brookings.
Funeral Services for Elaine Shirley Hedberg will be 10:30 AM Thursday, March 27, 2025, at North Preston Lutheran Church, with Pastor Brian Ricke officiating. Visitation will be Wednesday, March 26, 2025, from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM at Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Arlington. Visitation one hour prior to services at the church. Burial will be in the North Preston Lutheran Cemetery.
Elaine was born July 20, 1940, to Henry and Maude (Lounsbery) Kropuenske in Vermillion, South Dakota. She moved with her family from Centerville to Erwin in 1948. She was the only child for 5 years. Between 1945-1950 she welcomed 3 brothers, Darrell, Dale, and Elwyn. By the age of 10, she drove the car and the tractor and was her dad's hired hand. She was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Faith.
Elaine attended Erwin High School graduating in 1958. She went on to attend General Beadle College in Madison to receive her Teacher's Certificate. She taught at the country school for 2 years and taught at Erwin School.
She married Arden E. Jensen on December 27, 1960, at Willow Lake Evangelical Church. Elaine was a schoolteacher prior to starting a family. They lived on the farm north of Lake Preston from 1960 until moving into Lake Preston in 1988. Arden passed away on November 18, 1992. During these years, she worked for Interlakes Community Action as a mini-bus driver, helping the elderly and the disabled. She was a tour guide for South Dakota Farmers Union and was a tour guide on the motor coach touring the US and Canada. Elaine also worked at Kingsbury Memorial Manor and the Lake Preston Times. She always enjoyed her jobs.
Elaine married Kenneth Hedberg on May 20, 1995, and continued to live in Lake Preston. Kenneth and Elaine spent several winters in Arizona until their health started to fail. Ken passed away in 2009, and she continued living in Lake Preston until 2020 when she moved to StoneyBrook Assisted Living in Brookings. Elaine was very active in the North Preston Lutheran Church since 1960. She was active in the Welca, American Legion Auxiliary, and was a Sunday School and Bible School teacher for several years. Elaine enjoyed homemaking, helping around the farm, gardening, traveling, and spending time with family and friends. She especially loved taking care of and spending time with her grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Elaine is survived by her son Wade (Lori) Jensen of Lake Preston, son Ward Jensen of Sioux Falls; daughter Dawn Larsen of Brookings; stepchildren Jeannine Hedberg, David (Esther) Hedberg, and Blaine Hedberg; brother Elwyn (Leann) Kropuenske of Brookings; sisters-in-law Florence Kropuenske and Kathy Kropuenske both of Sioux Falls. She is also survived by 8 grandchildren, 2 step-grandchildren, and 8 great-grandchildren.
Elaine was preceded in death by her parents, husbands, Arden and Kenneth, daughter-in-law, Jackie Jensen, infant granddaughter, Sydney Vlaminck, 2 brothers, Darrell Kropuenske and Dale Kropuenske, and grandson, Jay Albert.
Arrangements entrusted to Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel of Arlington, Lake Preston, Oldham.
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