Jeanette Horn peacefully drew her last breath on March 27, 2018, after a lifetime of making a difference in the lives of all who knew her.

 Jeanette was born Oct. 2, 1920, and grew up on a farm in Turner County as the only child of Hattie and Hank Unruh. She graduated from Parker High School and then from South Dakota State University where she met and married a handsome sailor, the love of her life and her favorite dancing partner, Raymond Horn. The couple celebrated 63 years of marriage before Ray’s passing in 2006.

 Jeanette’s pathway into of making a difference in the lives of others began with teaching in Salem and then working as a home extension agent. 

The couple settled in Brookings where she continued to teach, first in Volga teaching home economics and then teaching English and Speech at Brookings High School and South Dakota State. She was particularly proud of her ability to connect with students whom others found to be challenging or who had trouble fitting in. Jeanette competitively coached declamation at Brookings High School and had many students win contests at the state and national level.  She assertively balanced the roles of wife, mother, and competitive professional before this was common.  

 Jeanette and Ray moved to Sioux Falls in 1983 when Ray assumed the position of Grand Secretary of the Masonic Lodge South Dakota. The couple traveled frequently to national Grand Masonic meetings.

 Involvement in Masonic activities has been a source of service and friendship all Jeanette’s life. She was a 75-year member of the Order of the Eastern Star, served as Grand Guardian of Job’s Daughters, and was active in Daughters of the Nile. In all of these organizations she took positions of leadership and service and developed lifelong relationships with individuals throughout the state.

 Jeanette was an avid bridge player. For over 40 years she was part of a couples bridge club in Brookings and then continued her game with two bridge clubs in Sioux Falls. She played bridge weekly well into her 90s and was delighted to brag about her frequent high scores and at her luck in getting great cards.

All who have known Jeanette are very aware of her pleasure in dressing in a classy and stylish manner. Her closets have always “runneth over.” Some of her most personally satisfying activities later in life involved selling high-quality clothing in women’s stores in Sioux Falls.

For the last 12 years of her life Jeanette lived at Dow Rummel Village in Sioux Falls, where she continued to develop friendships and served others via volunteer work.

Jeanette achieved a personal goal of flying to Indianapolis in December to continue the tradition of celebrating Christmas with her family, a trip that she made independently as recently as three years ago. 

Her feisty spirit will be long remembered and will continue to inspire

Jeanette is survived by her daughter Susan and son Ray and their families in Indianapolis Indiana, including Susan’s husband Michael McMahon and their sons David and Robert along with Ray’s wife Wendy Myres and their children Katherine and Raymond IV.

Memorial contributions can be made to Caring Friends at First Presbyterian Church in Sioux Falls or to “Raymond W. Horn Masonic Scholarship at South Dakota State University” in care of the SDSU Foundation.

Funeral services will be held 1 p.m. on Monday, April 2, 2018, at Dow Rummel Village Chapel, 1321 W. Dow Rummel St. in Sioux Falls with reception following. Jeanette will be laid to rest next to her beloved husband in Rosehill Cemetery in Parker.