Gert Van Lent

Gert Van Lent, age 88, of Yankton, South Dakota and formerly of Beresford, South Dakota and Bella Vista, Arkansas, died Thursday, April 25, 2024, at her home while on hospice, surrounded by her family.

Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be 11:00 AM on Friday, May 3, 2024, at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Yankton, South Dakota, with Reverend Tom Anderson officiating. Entombment will be at a later date in St. Bernard’s Catholic Church Columbarium in Bella Vista, Arkansas. The family will receive friends from 6:00 to 7:00 PM on Thursday, May 2, 2024, at the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home in Yankton, South Dakota, with a time of sharing and prayer service at 7:00 PM. The Mass and prayer service will be live streamed and can be viewed at www.facebook.com/WintzRay.

Gert Van Lent was born on May 2, 1935, in Larchwood, Iowa, the youngest child of Henry and Gertrude (Van Den Hul) Kamp. She grew up in Larchwood and attended school at St. Mary’s Catholic School graduating in 1953. She then attended Presentation College in Aberdeen, South Dakota and became a Registered Nurse. She married John “Jack” Van Lent on January 28, 1957, in Larchwood, and together they had six children. During their married life, they lived in Brookings, Sioux Falls, Beresford, Yankton, and Bella Vista, AR. 

During her working career, Gert (not Trudy, not Gertie, and particularly not Gertrude) was a devoted and caring nurse working in a wide range of health care specialties including the hospital, Beresford School District, home health, nursing homes, prisons, and mental health facilities. While living in Sioux Falls, Gert worked at Avera McKennan Hospital. In Beresford, she worked as the School Nurse and was Director of Nursing at the Alcester Nursing Home. Gert worked at the Human Services Center in Yankton and while in Bella Vista, was both a school nurse and a prison nurse. After her husband died in 2007, Gert moved back to Yankton and became a full-time grandma. She loved the special time she was able to spend with her grandchildren and great grandchildren and loved creating meaningful things for them to do together.

Gert was a faithful, intelligent, spitfire of a woman who had a wonderful sense of humor and a strong commitment to her faith and her family. Gert had a lifetime of commitment and service to healthcare. She had a passion for helping people, especially children in need. She had an incredible eye for antiques. She liked nothing better than to scour through antique shops, flea markets, and garage sales. She enjoyed attending and working at estate sales. While living in Bella Vista, she worked as an antiques dealer and was often called in for her expertise on a certain piece. Gert was also a voracious reader and loved to be a part of many coffee groups throughout her life, forging many lifelong friendships. Gert was religious about attending Saturday night Mass followed by dinner with friends. She was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Questers, and her special Tuesday coffee group.  

Survivors include her six children: Marijo (Chuck) Bradley of Eureka, NSW Australia; Thomas (Lois) Van Lent of Tallahassee, Florida; Julie Shockley of Houston, Texas; Jeanne (Jim) Cihak of Dallas, Texas; Douglas (Tammra) Van Lent of Ixonia, Wisconsin; and Sarah (David) Carda of Yankton, South Dakota; 13 grandchildren: Aaron (Carolyn) Bradley, Adam Bradley, Nathaniel (Yesenia) Van Lent, Gerrit (Casandra) Van Lent, Mitchell (fiancée Erin Pharr) Shockley, Daniel (Amanda) Cihak, Alexander (Bianca) Cihak, Katherine Cihak, Jamie (Cory) Getzel, Anthony Van Lent, Samuel Carda, Lucas Carda, and Anna Carda; six great grandchildren: John Bradley, Oliver Van Lent, Braden Cihak, Hayes Cihak, Quinn Cihak, and Sunshine Carda; sister-in-law, Clare Van Lent of Ft. Dodge, Iowa and many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, Jack; her, parents; two brothers (Henry and Herman), three sisters (Margaret, Mary Ann, and Tillie); and son-in-law, Todd Shockley. 

In lieu of flowers, please make donations to the Sack Pack Program in Yankton. Email yanktonfft@gmail.com PO Box 7038, Yankton, South Dakota 57078.