Luella Joan DeJong, 86, of Winner, South Dakota passed away on Monday, October 26, 2026 at the Sanford Mid Dakota Care in Chamberlain, South Dakota. Funeral service will be held on Friday, November 6th, 2026 at 11:00 AM at the Orthodox Presbyterian Church in Winner, SD. Burial will follow in the Winner City Cemetery. A visitation will be held one hour prior to funeral service.

Luella Joan DeJong was born on May 15, 1940 in Dupree, South Dakota. The second of four children born to Leo and Thelma (Parkin) DeJong. After moving from Eagle Butte, South Dakota to the family ranch south of Kennebec where she grew up, she attended Country School and actually rode a pony to get there. How cool would that be!! Maybe not so much in the winter.

Luella also attended High School at Dakota Christian School in New Holland, South Dakota where she loved singing in choir.

Luella spent most of her years living on the Ranch helping her mother with cooking and cleaning. She also lived in both Platte, South Dakota and Rapid City, South Dakota, where she worked as a housekeeper and babysitter. Her nephews and nieces loved her very much!!

After both parents had passed Luella retired and lived in Winner, South Dakota where she called home for close to 40 years.

Luella was a lifelong member of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church where she attended in Hamill and Winner. She was a strong Christian and Loved her Savior and her Church Family.

Survivors include her sister Andella Leavitt of Wickenburg, AZ, nephews and nieces; Lou (Barb) DeJong, Corsicana, TX, Travis (Pamela) DeJong, Kadoka, SD, Tassie (Rob) Jundt, Wickenburg, AZ, Joe (Jacqueline) Leavitt, Wickenburg, AZ, Roger (Michelle) Leavitt, Wickenburg, AZ, Wendy Leavitt, Wickenburg, AZ, Dorinda Leavitt, San Diego, CA, Lorisa (Brandon) Echols, Wickenburg, AZ, steven Leavitt, Spanish Forks, UT.

Luella was preceded in death by her parents, an infant brother Claire and brother Gary.