Janice Bren

Janice Muriel Bren, age 85, of Sioux Falls, SD formerly of Goodwin, SD, passed away on Tuesday, September 12, 2023, at Doughtery Hospice in Sioux Falls, SD.  Funeral services will be at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, September 16, 2023 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Clear Lake, SD.  Rev. Michael Enderle will officiate.  Music will be provided by Ruth Enderle as organist.  This service will be live streamed via our website.

Visitation will be at the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Friday from 4-7 p.m. and prior to services at the church on Saturday.

Burial will be at Goodwin Cemetery in rural Goodwin.  Honorary pallbearers will be nieces and nephews. Active pallbearers will be grandchildren, Shane Roby (Chellsie), Jenna Eisenhauer (Dan), Brittany Befort (Andrew),  Brady Roby (Lauren), Erika Crow (Trevor), Hampton Iverson, Coyen Bren, Anya Bren.

Janice was born September 23, 1937, on a family farm northeast of Goodwin, to Joe and Ada (Chapin) Sherman.  She attended Goodwin school and graduated in 1955. She then attended Dakota State College in Madison, SD, getting a three year teaching certificate.  She then taught country schools for three years.

On July 27, 1958 she married Coye Bren at St. Peter’s Church in Goodwin.  The couple made their home in Goodwin and resided there until 2019, when Janice moved to Sioux Falls. She taught school, worked at post office, drove school bus,  and hauled livestock.  In 1975, she started working at Farmers State Bank in Kranzburg where she continued to work for 43 years.  During that time the bank changed names four times and was First Premier at her retirement. 

She served on Tabea Society, member of St. Peter’s Church, AAL Thrivent member, Finance Officer for Town of Goodwin for 40 years and a member of Goodwin Area Hall Board.

Janice is survived by two daughters, Candy (Doug) Roby, Christie Iverson; one son, Craig (Lynn) Bren; eight grandchildren, Shane (Chellsie) Roby, Jenna Roby (Dan) Eisenhauer, Brady (Lauren) Roby, Erika Roby (Trevor) Crow, Brittany Iverson (Andrew) Befort, Hampton Iverson, Coyen Bren, Anya Bren; nine great-grandchildren; two sisters, Carolyn Howard (Marty Allen), Eileen Smunk; in-laws, Chad and Vicki Bren, Mary Sue Bren; and many beloved nieces, nephews and close friends.

Janice was preceded in death by her husband, Coye; parents Joe and Ada Sherman; son-in-law, Yuri Iverson, parents-in-law, Oscar and Maizie Bren,  in-laws Oscar Jr . and Connie Bren, Robert Bren, Merlyn and Maxine Johnson ; four brothers, Lloyd and Nelli  Sherman, Raymond and Dolores Sherman, Harold and Helen Sherman, Robert and Mary Ann Sherman; two sisters, Grace and Mel Turbak, Ruth and Ralph Winter; brothers-in-law, Dick Smunk and Bob Howard.

 In lieu of flowers please donate to St Jude’s Children's Hospital.

Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel www.crawfordosthus.com Watertown, Hayti, De Smet, Bryant.

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