Dianna Palm, age 77 of Spearfish and formerly Belle Fourche, died Saturday, June 8, 2024 at her home following a sudden cardiac event.
A Celebration of Life Service will take place 10:30 am Friday June 21, 2024 at Leverington Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche. Visitation will take place 5 to 7pm Thursday, June 20th at the funeral home. Inurnment will be in Pine Slope Cemetery. Dianna’s memorial service will be available to view live or following the service from her obituary page, located on the funeral home’s website: www.LeveringtonFH.com
Dianna Lynn Kruse was born April 11, 1947 in LeMars, Iowa. She was the daughter of Glenn and Wanda (Nagel) Kruse. Dianna grew up in George, Iowa where she graduated from high school in 1965. In the summer of 1965, Dianna attended the Automation Institute of Omaha and completed a course in “Keypunching and Verifying” on the IBM 024 & 056 machines. It was a good experience and Dianna also learned independence, confidence and about life in a big city. Dianna’s calling became teaching summer Bible Schools programs including preparation and work with after school programs in Iowa and SD. Dianna moved to Bemidji, MN in 1967 where she attended Oak Hills Bible College. Dianna worked for Child Evangelism Fellowship in the Brookings area. In 1972 she was united in marriage to Gordon Palm at Central Baptist Church in George Iowa. Following their marriage, they farmed near Lake Norden, SD, and adopted two daughters from South Korea, Wendy and April. During this time, Dianna owned and operated a silk flower shop called “Floral Fantasies”. Dianna was gifted at making floral arrangements. She also bred Cocker Spaniels for a time. Gordon died in 1988, and in 1993, Dianna moved to Belle Fourche. For three years she worked at the nursing home, assisting the Activities Director. In 1996, she started Palm’s Country View, which she owned and operated until 2019. This business was a true passion and calling for Dianna. More than 40 women were cared for by Dianna over the years, including her parents. She loved them all like family, and emptied herself in her work. In 2022, Dianna moved to Spearfish, where she has lived since.
Dianna’s calling became teaching summer Bible School programs including preparation and work with after school programs in Iowa and SD. Dianna was a very entrepreneurial person, creative in many ways. Her life was self-less and sacrificial, humble and loyal. She was kind-hearted, loving, and she loved her Savior. And she loved talking about her faith. Dianna made her family proud in many ways. One of them was the state and national award she received several years ago from her involvement with J.T.P.A. for displaced homemakers while attending Lake Area Technical Institute. She was a State of South Dakota Award Winner, and a National Award Winner, which included a paid trip to Washington D.C. to receive her award. Dianna will be missed greatly by her family.
Dianna is survived by her daughters, Wendy (Keith) Neuharth of Sioux Falls, April Palm of Spearfish; brother, Jay (Laurie) Kruse of Wentworth, SD; sister, Dorene (Steve) Schimelfenig of Indianola, Iowa; sister-in-law, Corrine Heineman of Springfield, OH; nieces and nephews, Katy (Shawn) Jaminet of Spearfish, Tanna (Kyle) Anderson of Brandon, SD, Jake (Tasha) Kruse of Spearfish, Jaime Applebee of Des Moines, Iowa, Taylor Schimelfenig of Ames, Iowa, Cole (fiancé Shannon) Schimelfenig of Des Moines, Iowa, Michael Larson of Deadwood, Tina (Neil) Carpenter of Sioux Falls, Elizabeth (Corey) Fonder of Iowa City, IA, Tod Heineman of Tionesta, PA, and Scott (Debbie) Heineman of Springfield, OH. She is also survived by 16 great nieces and nephew, and aunt, Ina Faye Underwood, of Spencer, Iowa.
She was preceded in death by her parents; husband; sister, Debra Kruse; and brother-in-law, Glenn Heineman.
