It is with sorrow and gratitude that we mark the passing of Marlene Berens, 88, of Parker, SD — sorrow at the loss, gratitude for the life.
Below, the simplest tribute: the truth of a life as it was lived.
The story begins in 1937, with the arrival of a life that would be cherished by many.
Marlene held deeply to the Lutheran faith — and was, by all accounts, loved by those who knew her best.
Faith is the language some lives are written in. Marlene's was one.
Marlene L. Berens, 88 died Thursday, October 16, 2025 at Good Samaritan Heartstone in Sioux Falls. Funeral services will be at 10:30am Monday, October 20, 2025 at Grace Lutheran Church, Parker with burial at Rosehill Cemetery, Parker. Visitation will be from 5-7pm Sunday evening at Hofmeister Jones Funeral Home, Parker.Marlene Leona Berens was born on August 5, 1937 in Humboldt, SD to John and Leona (Bucheim) Rehfeldt. After attending country school she graduated from Humboldt High School in 1955. On August 4, 1956 she was united in marriage to Edwin Berens in Humboldt, SD. They lived in Parker where she was employed for many years at Koehn's Variety and in later years she managed the Prairie Pumper for 15 years. She was a member of Grace Lutheran Church since 1968 where she was involved in ladies work groups and teaching Sunday school. Her hobbies included quilting, gardening and especially enjoyed baking. Her husband Edwin died in 2016.Grateful for having shared her life are her two children, Deb Dreesman, Brandon and Mike (Jodie) Berens, Sioux Falls; 6 grandchildren, Heath Dreesman, Cory (Becca) Dreesman, Stacie (Brian) Psyk, Melissa (Ryan) Lehr, Kelsey (Trevor Regas) Berens, and Makayla (Colin) Sachen; 7 great grandchildren, Ella, Emmett, Connor, Hadley, Hudson, Owen, and Carter; and a sister Barbara Muchow, Hartford, SD. She was preceded in death by her husband Edwin, her parents John and Leona, brothers Donald, Robert, and Hervey, and sisters Delores, Helen, and Delda.
