Frank Gerrit Reurink

FRANK GERRIT REURINK was born on June 29, 1927, to Gerrit and Jennie (Hein) Reurink in Colton, South Dakota. He was baptized in the Reformed Church in Colton. Frank was drafted into the United States Army in 1945, during World War II, before being honorably discharged in 1946. On September 2, 1949, Frank married Delores Swier in Colton. They engaged in farming in the Colton area prior to Frank working at John Morrell. In 1988, Frank received a heart transplant at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis, Minnesota, becoming only the 161st person to receive a heart transplant there. Frank and Delores started wintering in Arizona in their later years. Frank and Delores moved to Sioux Falls, South Dakota permanently in 2017. Frank died peacefully at the VA Medical Center on Thursday, August 29, 2019 at the age of 92 years and two months.

Frank was a member of the American Reformed Church in Luverne, Minnesota. During his time in Sioux Falls, he was a charter member and acted as an elder in the Good News Reformed Church in Sioux Falls. Frank also served as a Sunday school teacher and was a lay pastor and preached at various churches around the Arlington, South Dakota area. He was a member of the Arlington American Legion Post #42. Frank enjoyed outdoor activities such as hunting, fishing, gardening, camping, golfing, mowing his lawn, and playing horseshoes. He also had a great love of the Minnesota Twins. Frank was a very kind man that never hesitated to tell his family “I love you.” He also enjoyed bringing joy to people, reminding them to “keep smiling.” Frank loved his family above all else and reminded them often.

He is lovingly remembered by his wife, Delores of Sioux Falls; their four children, David (Barb) Reurink of Mesa, Arizona, Beverly (Mike) Berg of Sioux Falls, Lori Otten of Luverne, and Todd (Ann) Reurink of Sioux Falls; seven grandchildren, Clint (Dana) Berg, Jessica (Carey) Tri, Jenni (Lee) Yanke, Nick (Jessica) Otten, Ashley Otten (fiancé, Richard Gonzalez), Sara Reurink, Anthony Reurink; nine great-grandchildren, Abby and Matthew Yanke, Ainsley, Audrey, and Arianna Berg, Ryder, Camdyn, and Brady Tri, and Easton Otten; three siblings, Dorothy (Heinie) VanderWeerd of Brandon, South Dakota, Jeanette Farr of Sioux Falls, Carrie (Don) Hanneman of Dell Rapids, South Dakota; and many other loving friends and family members. Frank was preceded in death by his parents; one brother; and three sisters.