Lillian I. Van Dykhorst

Lillian Irene (Buschenfeld) Van Dykhorst, age 92, of Watertown, SD, passed away on Friday, July 11, 2025, at Prairie Lakes Hospice Care.

Funeral Services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, July 14, 2025, at First United Methodist Church in Watertown.  Pastor Sara McManus will officiate. Music will be provided by Jan Goldhorn.

Visitation will be at the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Sunday, July 13, 2025, from 1:00-3:00 p.m. and prior to services at the church on Monday.

Burial will be at Hamlin Reformed Cemetery in Castlewood, SD.  Pallbearers will be Mark Buschenfeld, David Buschenfeld, Jacob Buschenfeld, Robert Kasdorf, Stacey DeBoer, and Dan Krause.

Lillian was born on September 6, 1932, in Toronto, SD, to John and Albena Buschenfeld. She was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church in Estelline, SD. Lillian attended Toronto School through the eighth grade.

On August 25, 1951, Lillian was united in marriage to John Van Dykhorst of Dempster, SD. The couple farmed near Estelline, Henry, Clear Lake, and Castlewood, SD. When they retired from farming, they moved to Clear Lake. Mom babysat many children, her own children’s children, as well as many other people’s children. Lillian worked at Lake Norden and Estelline Jenkins Nursing Homes for several years. Lillian worked with John, traveling to many places to sell the crafts they had both made, and doing the things a farmer’s wife did for her husband and family.

Lillian enjoyed crocheting, embroidery, playing bingo, doing word finds and puzzles, coloring and other activities while living at Jenkins Nursing Home in Watertown, SD.

Grateful for having shared her life of nearly 93 years, are her children: Gloria Van Dykhorst of Watertown, SD, Don (Jo) Van Dykhorst of Castlewood, SD, and Betty (Don) Weidler of Madison, SD; five grandchildren: Michael “Mike” Van Dykhorst of Watertown, SD, Robert “Bob” Van Dykhorst of Brookings, SD, Christina Van Dykhorst of Vermillion, SD, Laura (Randall) Shannon and their children Bentley, Nevaeh, and Piper of Madison, SD, and David (Jobi) Weidler and their child, Kamden, of Sioux Falls, SD; step-grandchildren: Keith (Shannon) Harms and their children of Watertown, SD, Kendall (Patty) Harms and their children of Watertown, SD, and Karrie (Derek) Opsahl and their children of Watertown, SD. Lillian always called Kathy Johnson her “adopted” daughter and treated her as one of us along with many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her husband, John, two daughters, Joyce Ann and Mary Ann; one grandson, Joshua Van Dykhorst; her parents, John and Albena “Bena” Buschenfeld; one sister, Albertha “Bertha” Weinberg; three brothers, Melvin, Clarence and Raymond Buschenfeld; brothers-in-law: Art Weinberg, Richard Jongeling, Eddie Van Dykhorst, Ed Saathoff; and sisters-in-law: Alice Buschenfeld, Delores Buschenfeld, Evelyn Saathoff, Delores Jongeling and Judy Van Dykhorst.

Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel www.crawfordosthus.com Watertown and Hayti

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