Diane Gunderson

Diane Gunderson, age 92, of Yankton, South Dakota died on Sunday, December 22, 2024 at Angelhaus in Yankton.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM, on Thursday, January 2, 2025 at Wintz & Ray Funeral Home in Yankton with Reverend Velma Larson officiating. Burial will be in the Vangen Lutheran Cemetery in Mission Hill, South Dakota. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the funeral home.

Diane was born July 22, 1932 to Jorgen and Helena (Pfeiffer) Bruget. She grew up near Volin, SD where she attended grade school and graduated from Volin High School. Diane then received her teaching certificate from Southern State College in Springfield, SD in 1950. After college, Diane taught at Pederson 66 rural grade school. She married Jack Gunderson on May 27, 1951 in Volin. They lived in Alaska for two years while Jack was in the United States Air Force. He was furloughed in 1953 and they moved to Spokane, WA until the war ended, returning home in October of 1953. 

Diane farmed with her husband raising three children, Chris, Lynn and Beth. She loved gardening and canning while also working for The Dakota Farmer. They farmed until 1986 and then began a new lifestyle selling Black Hills jewelry – mostly in Yuma, AZ during the winters and the western United States in the summers. Jack was happiest behind the wheel and Diane with a map in her hand. Diane was a lifelong member of Vangen Lutheran Church in Mission Hill, teaching Sunday School and singing in the choir. She will be greatly missed.

Thank you to the staff at Angelhaus. Diane lived there for 10 years and it became her new home. Also thank you to the hospice team who cared for Diane the last week of her life.

Diane is survived by two daughters, Lynn (Tom) Balfany of Yankton and Beth Hoebelheinrich of Yankton; six grandchildren; 11 great grandchildren; sister, Fern Davis; and sister-in-law, Phyllis Karolevitz.

Diane was preceded in death by husband, Jack Gunderson on December 13, 2015; son, Chris Gunderson; son-in-law, John Hoebelheinrich; and several other family members.