Funeral services for Dena Mitchell, age 91, of Lemmon, SD will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, January 30, 2013 at the Calvary Lutheran Church in Lemmon, SD. Pastor Bob Edwards will officiate with burial in the Greenhill Cemetery at Lemmon.

Serving as active casketbearers are her grandchildren, Kathleen Heimelspach, Cody Mitchell, Roy Mitchell, Denise Broadbent, Dawn Kelly, Rory Stevens, Rhonda Reiser, Tori Kling, Justin Dale Mitchell, Lesly Lucy and Christina McElroy. All of Dena's friends are considered honorary casketbearers.

Special music will be provided by Marilyn Willey.

Dena (Palmadinna) Erker Mitchell was born May 19, 1921 in Brisbane, North Dakota to Aloysius & Rosa (Jonas) Erker. She was the second born of five girls who were raised just a short distance from her Four Mile Road home. She lived within 5 miles of her birthplace for most of her lifetime. Dena attended country school at Trail School, near her home. She graduated from Lemmon High School in 1940. During her high school years, she worked as a beautician.

In the summer of 1938 she met the love her life Lyol H. Mitchell, after a short courtship they were married on June 14, 1940 in Bison, South Dakota. They enjoyed a honeymoon in the Black Hills where Mount Rushmore was still under construction.

Dena and Lyol had a relentless commitment to hard work on their farm. Together they raised cattle, pigs, sheep, turkey, chickens & milk cows all the while farming nearly 3000 acres. They proudly raised 5 children & planted the hundreds of acres of trees that became known as the Mitchell tree farm. They had an outstanding orchard and Dena kept a meticulous garden. As a young lady you could find her fishing along the banks of the river, hunting on the countryside or teaching her children life lessons.

Dena was a passionate chef and word traveled fast about Dena's unbelievable cooking, nearly every meal both invited and uninvited guests would join the Mitchells often topping 20 people. She continued her enthusiasm for cooking and baking until her passing.

After losing Lyol in Dec. 1978, Dena found new passions. She loved to travel both domestically and internationally with her sisters, children and grandchildren. A travel highlight was her trip to the 1965 World's fair where her husband, Lyol Mitchell, received the Ford Farmer of the Year. In addition to her farming and ranching operation, she spent several years working at the café in Lemmon and running gift stores in Virginia City, Montana.

Dena was the glue that kept the family together always ensuring a reunion was planned and get-togethers were organized. Once she moved to town she was blessed to share many memories with her best friend and neighbor Blanche Sands.

Dena passed away on Friday, January 25, 2013 at her home in Lemmon, SD.

She is survived by two sons, Leal (Mel) Mitchell and Noel (Roberta) Mitchell, all of Lemmon, SD; two daughters, Vadne (John) Broadbent, Lemmon, SD and Rena Hermann, Bozeman, MT; 11 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; and one sister, Anna Becker, Moscow, ID; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Dena was preceded in death by her parents; her husband Lyol H. Mitchell; one son, Lyol D. Mitchell; one grandson, Mitchell Broadbent; three sisters, Agnes Blom, Katheryn Plocek and Amelia Burkhartsmeier.

Visitation will be from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, January 29, 2013 at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon and one hour prior to services at the church on Wednesday afternoon.

A memorial has been established to the Calvary Lutheran Church in Lemmon.