Obituary of Judy Ann Groeneweg

Parkston - Judy Ann Groeneweg, 77, peacefully went to her heavenly home on Friday May 9, 2025 with her family right there by her side at Avera St. Benedict Hospital in Parkston. Funeral services will be held on Wednesday May 14 at 11:00 am, with visitation starting at 10:00 am, at Harrison Community Church in Harrison. Arrangements have been made by Koehn Bros Funeral Home in Amour. 

Judy was born Nov 11, 1947 to John Edward Nydam and Virginia (Olivier) Nydam. She was proud to go to her country school thru the 8th grade although she always talked of how she wished she could have had the opportunity to further her education. She often talked about her cherished memories of attending Aurora Center Church and the Girls’ League. She was united in marriage to Larry Groeneweg on June 16, 1964. Shortly after being married, they moved to Anchorage, Alaska. Because of Larry’s fathers declining health they returned to continue farming on the Groeneweg farm thereafter. She loved to share cherished time with friends and for years worked out of her home to style hair for many women in the area. She also loved to garden, can, cook, and had a talent for decorating. She loved caring for her four children and husband. She was so proud of all her children but she was especially proud to be a mother of twin boys. She had a very creative mind and loved to learn and teach. Judy was a self-taught and talented stained-glass artist and her work is displayed to this day in the stained-glass windows of many churches around the state. She worked out of her Prairie Pane Stained Glass Studio on the farm for 20 plus years until being diagnosed with a serious illness in 2003. Even with her diagnosis, miraculously she beat all the odds stacked up against her and continued to live at home with the help of her husband until her death. Although often unable to leave her home she continued to be involved in the lives of her friends, children, grandchildren and great grandchildren though videos, photos, cards, messages and prayers.

Grateful for having shared her life is her husband of 60 plus years, Larry, Corsica, SD; 2 daughters, Jodie (Doug) Lakis, Carolina Shores, NC; Jeannie (Trav) DeLange, Corsica, SD; a son, LaRoy (Heather Geres) Groeneweg, Corsica, SD: 7 grandchildren: Haley Walls, Dakota Walls, Tristan Walls, Dalton (Kate) DeLange, Christian (Stephanie) DeLange, Kolby DeLange and Jagger Groeneweg. They also have been blessed with 4 great-grandchildren: Maren DeLange, London DeLange, Dahlia DeLange and Beau DeLange. Two sisters Carol (Leonard) Weins, Platte, SD; Kathy (Bruce) Zomer, Corsica SD, Sister-in-law Bev Varlik, Aurora Center, SD; and brother and sister-in laws, cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

She was proceeded in death by both her parents, John E. & Virgina Nydam and Henry & Gertie Groeneweg; her son, LaRon Groeneweg; her brother John Allen Nydam and her grandson Hoyt LaRon Groeneweg.