Sally C. Lenertz

Sally Corine Lenertz was born May 28, 1948 to Arnold and Jean (Faulds) Stefansen in Tyler, Minnesota. She was both baptized and confirmed at Danebod Lutheran Church in Tyler. Sally graduated from Tyler High School in 1966. After high school, Sally continued her education at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in English in December 1969. After graduation, she taught High School English for a year and a half at Belle Plaine, Minnesota before marrying Robert Lenertz of Canby, Minnesota on June 12, 1971. The newlyweds then moved to South Florida where Robert worked for the telephone company as a lineman.

In Florida, Sally taught intermediate and high school English, speech, and drama and lived in Homestead, Merrit Island, and finally in Jacksonville where she retired in 2002 and again became a student, completing her Master's Degree in Literature at the University of North Florida in 2004. Upon Robert's retirement in 2006, they moved to Brookings, South Dakota to be closer to their families here in the Midwest. On Wednesday, May 25, 2011 Sally died at the Brookings Hospital following an eight year battle with ovarian cancer. She was three days shy of her 63rd birthday. Sally was a child of God and a follower of Jesus Christ; a good and faithful servant. She now rejoices in the joy of the Lord, and is at peace.

Sally was a lifelong member of the Lutheran Church where she sang in the choir, taught Sunday school, and was involved with numerous groups and circles. In 2004, Sally was blessed with a chance to sing with the Bach Chorale when they performed the Requiem at Carnegie Hall in New York City. In addition to being a wife, mother, and teacher, Sally enjoyed her extensive family and her many friends. Her hobbies included gardening, stamping, and reading.

Sally is lovingly remembered by Robert, her husband of 40 years; her children: Kristin and husband Darren Kersey of Volga, South Dakota; Erin and husband Jason Delgehausen of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; her grandchildren: Hailey and Raenie Delgehausen; her sister Jill Stefansen of Minneapolis, Minnesota; her brother Joel Stefansen of Marysville, Tennessee; her father Arnold Stefansen of Tyler Minnesota; and many other friends and relatives throughout the United States. Sally is preceded in death by her mother, Jean Stefansen of Tyler, Minnesota.

In Lieu of flowers or gifts, please send donations in Sally’s name to Lutheran Disaster Response.
www.ldr.org