Gwenda L. Jackson, 64

Gwenda LeAnn Nieuwehuis Jackson passed away Monday, November 15, 2021 at her home in Lakeview, SD.

Gwenda was born March 7, 1957 at the Sandhills General Hospital in Valentine to Burnell “Bud” Nieuwenhuis Sr. and Gwendolyn “Fae” (Cramer) Nieuwenhuis.

A member of the Class of 1975, Gwenda attended grade school at Valentine West Elementary and junior and senior high at Valentine Rural High School.

On December 28, 1974, she was united in marriage to Roger Lynn Andre. The union was blessed with two sons: Christopher Michael Andre on June 28, 1975, and Shannon Curtis Andre on January 4, 1977. Following their divorce, Gwenda returned to Valentine, where she worked as a waitress at St. Christophers Café and Fine Dining.

On September 15, 1979, Gwenda was united in marriage to Gregory Irwin Jackson in Valentine. This union was blessed with one son, Gregory Irwin Jackson, Jr. on August 22, 1980, and one daughter, Lacey Dawn Jackson on March 5, 1986.

Gwenda and Greg raised their little family on the Jackson Dairy Farm near Lakeview, SD, teaching their four children the value of family, hard work and community. In 1989, with her three boys attending Lakeview Elementary School, Gwenda was given the opportunity to become a bus driver for the Todd County School District and took it. She quickly became an essential part of the Lakeview School family; volunteering as “Zero the Hero”, designing the yearbook, painting the mural in the Lakeview Gym, volunteering in the kitchen; you name it, if she was needed, she was there to help. She filled in as a substitute teacher at Lakeview, Spring Creek and Rosebud elementary schools as needed. In 2000, with her youngest starting high school, she moved on to become the secretary at Todd County High School and in 2001 moved to the Bus Shop. True to character she helped to serve meals in the High School cafeteria. In total, she spent 33 years working for the Todd County School District, 20 of those years at the Bus Shop, where her co-workers became her second family.

As a child, Gwenda spent every weekend, holiday and summer with her grandparents Mike and Viola Stout Pavlik on their ranch near Johnstown. It was here that she gained and cultivated her love of nature, learned determination and self-sufficiency, and learned that she could do anything if she set her mind to it. If she needed a storage shed or another bedroom on the house, she drew up the plans and built it. She shared those childhood memories with her children and grandchildren along with her father’s love of John Deere tractors.

Gwenda was a huge fan of John Wayne and owned all of his movies, enjoying the movies and what John Wayne stood for; freedom and the American Way. She enjoyed watching the movies with her children and grandchildren and talking about their favorite scenes and quotes. Titles on the top of her list included McClintock and Donavan’s Reef.

Gwenda’s family was her most valued treasure. She spent countless evenings and weekends in sitting in the bleachers of various locations across South Dakota and Nebraska cheering on her children, grandchildren, nephews and nieces at wrestling, basketball, volleyball, track, baseball, and dance recitals. She also passed on her love for music and singing talent. She loved to crochet and if you were fortunate, you would receive an Afghan or scarf made, “with love”, by Gwenda. Her children will tell you that she, single-handedly, kept the yarn business afloat.

Gwenda loved fiercely and her quiet faith in her Savior, Jesus Christ was shown loudly through her love for others. She loved and cared deeply for her husband. She loved her children and grandchildren with endless hugs and treats. Her care and concern for others reached far beyond her family. The community she lived in was her family and she showed her love for them through her kindness and ability to remember birthdays and anniversaries. She tirelessly crocheted afghans for newborn babies and graduations. A close family friend and neighbor said it best, “Gwenda never met a stranger”. If she loved you, she was your biggest advocate. She was humble, genuine, and loved people for who they were. Her passion was bringing family together for holidays and spoiling her grandkids at Christmas. She enjoyed genealogy and loved family reunions. Most recently, this past June, she organized the 2021 Nieuwenhuis Family Reunion in Valentine. As we look back and are going through each day, we can see her love and care for us even now as she’s in Heaven.

Gwenda is survived by her husband Greg Sr. of Lakeview, SD; sons Chris Andre and wife, Jessie of Mission, SD; Shannon Andre and wife Andrea of Valentine; Gregory Jackson, Jr. and wife LaCosta of Lakeview, SD; and daughter, Lacey Jackson of Valentine; granddaughters, Sheridan, RyleeAnn and Devanie Andre, Tatiana Williams, Lillica Jackson, and Ivy Jackson, grandsons, Jekhi Williams, and Judah Jackson.; brother Burnell Nieuwenhuis Jr. (Rosella) of Valentine; sister Vernell (Jerome) Riewe of North Platte; and sister Rebecca Childers of Valentine, mother-in-law Betty Jackson, brothers-in-law Dennis, Jackson, Dean Jackson, and Gary Jackson; sister-in-law Janet Brase; as well as many nieces and nephews.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Bud Nieuwenhuis and Fae Nieuwenhuis, brother Paul Nieuwenhuis, sister-in-law Shirley Nieuwenhuis, niece Shelby Jackson, and father-in-law Irwin “Stub” Jackson.

Funeral service was held Tuesday, November 23, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. at the United Methodist Church in Valentine with burial at Lakeview Cemetery, Lakeview, SD. Holmes Funeral Home was entrusted with the arrangements. Online guest register is available at www.HolmesFH.com.