DEBBY REYNOLDS
2024-05-08
Debby Reynolds slipped away on May 8, 2024, after a courageous and utterly valiant fight with ALS. Her strength of character and strength of body allowed her to find joy in every day of life until the very end.
Debby was married to her high school sweetheart, Dr. James R Reynolds, for 56 years. Their first date was on Debby’s 16th birthday! Together, they lived, laughed, loved, surprised, and spoiled each other silly. The love story of a lifetime lives on as they are now together again.
Jim and Debby welcomed five children to the family, including Dr. Branden Reynolds (Catherine), Amy Reynolds Minchin (James), Bethany McKenzie (Matt), Timothy Reynolds (Amanda), and Annmarie Krueger (Nathan). Each of her kids gave her amazing grandchildren, including the little pink one on the way now!
Debby shared the family home with her children from age 21 to 64, when her youngest left the nest. During this 43-year span, she perfected the art of chocolate chip cookie baking, Valentine mailbox making, costume sewing, harp hauling, walleye frying, and hosting the many impromptu gatherings that came with having five outgoing kids and an even more social husband.
One of Debby’s greatest passion projects was the conception, fundraising, building, and opening of the Prairie Heart Guest House - a low-cost hotel attached to the Heart Hospital for families of loved ones who were in town for surgery. She took great pride in enhancing the experience of Jim’s patient’s families and making sure they felt supported and loved during a stressful time in their lives. She later advocated to add a walkway to connect the hospital to the hotel to protect guests from the bitter South Dakota winters.
Debby was preceded in death by her husband, Jim, and parents, Daniel and Doris Darroch.
And while we celebrate their heavenly reunion, Debby will be so dearly missed by her 5 children, their spouses, grandchildren, Debby’s beloved Wednesday ladies lunch group, Thursday night dinner club friends and Chloe, her German Wire-Haired Pointer.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Dr. James R. Reynolds Scholarship fund at the USD School of Medicine, 1110 N Dakota St., Vermillion, SD 57069. Please address the envelope to "Attn: Dr. James Reynolds Scholarship Fund" and include "Dr. James Reynolds Scholarship" on the memo line of the check. A scholarship has also been created in Debby’s name to fund tennis lessons for underserved kids in the Sioux Falls area. Donations can be made to the Debby Reynolds scholarship fund at Match Pointe Tennis - 4210 N. Bobhalla Dr., SF, SD 57107.
The family will be present for visitation from 5:00 – 7:00 PM on Monday, May 13, 2024 at Miller Funeral Home – Southside Chapel, 7400 S. Minnesota Ave., Sioux Falls, SD 57108. Celebration of life services are scheduled for 11:00 am on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at Central Church, 3100 W. Ralph Rogers Road, Sioux Falls, SD. Please feel welcome to dress in joyful colors as we celebrate Debby, an amazingly joyful woman!
Debby was married to her high school sweetheart, Dr. James R Reynolds, for 56 years. Their first date was on Debby’s 16th birthday! Together, they lived, laughed, loved, surprised, and spoiled each other silly. The love story of a lifetime lives on as they are now together again.
Jim and Debby welcomed five children to the family, including Dr. Branden Reynolds (Catherine), Amy Reynolds Minchin (James), Bethany McKenzie (Matt), Timothy Reynolds (Amanda), and Annmarie Krueger (Nathan). Each of her kids gave her amazing grandchildren, including the little pink one on the way now!
Debby shared the family home with her children from age 21 to 64, when her youngest left the nest. During this 43-year span, she perfected the art of chocolate chip cookie baking, Valentine mailbox making, costume sewing, harp hauling, walleye frying, and hosting the many impromptu gatherings that came with having five outgoing kids and an even more social husband.
One of Debby’s greatest passion projects was the conception, fundraising, building, and opening of the Prairie Heart Guest House - a low-cost hotel attached to the Heart Hospital for families of loved ones who were in town for surgery. She took great pride in enhancing the experience of Jim’s patient’s families and making sure they felt supported and loved during a stressful time in their lives. She later advocated to add a walkway to connect the hospital to the hotel to protect guests from the bitter South Dakota winters.
Debby was preceded in death by her husband, Jim, and parents, Daniel and Doris Darroch.
And while we celebrate their heavenly reunion, Debby will be so dearly missed by her 5 children, their spouses, grandchildren, Debby’s beloved Wednesday ladies lunch group, Thursday night dinner club friends and Chloe, her German Wire-Haired Pointer.
In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to the Dr. James R. Reynolds Scholarship fund at the USD School of Medicine, 1110 N Dakota St., Vermillion, SD 57069. Please address the envelope to "Attn: Dr. James Reynolds Scholarship Fund" and include "Dr. James Reynolds Scholarship" on the memo line of the check. A scholarship has also been created in Debby’s name to fund tennis lessons for underserved kids in the Sioux Falls area. Donations can be made to the Debby Reynolds scholarship fund at Match Pointe Tennis - 4210 N. Bobhalla Dr., SF, SD 57107.
The family will be present for visitation from 5:00 – 7:00 PM on Monday, May 13, 2024 at Miller Funeral Home – Southside Chapel, 7400 S. Minnesota Ave., Sioux Falls, SD 57108. Celebration of life services are scheduled for 11:00 am on Tuesday, May 14, 2024 at Central Church, 3100 W. Ralph Rogers Road, Sioux Falls, SD. Please feel welcome to dress in joyful colors as we celebrate Debby, an amazingly joyful woman!