Sioux Falls, SD – Dolores Tjarks, age 91, went to her heavenly home on Thursday, March 21, 2024, in Sioux Falls, SD.
Dolores taught her children to love God above all else, see the best in people and dish out praise in heaping spoonfuls. She was endlessly kind. Dolores lived a life of service to her family, church, students, friends and colleagues. She had a passion for teaching and loved to help children discover the joy of reading. She was an accomplished seamstress and loved quilting.
Dolores Eileen Ellermeier was born July 15, 1932, in the farm home of her parents in Clay County, Nebraska. She graduated from Glenvil High School in Glenvil, Nebraska; received a two-year teaching certificate from Wartburg College in Waverly, Iowa; and completed her bachelor’s degree in elementary education at Idaho State University in Pocatello. She married Eugene Tjarks on August 19, 1951, at Glenvil, Nebraska. Dolores taught country school near Dubuque, Iowa, to support Gene as he completed seminary at Wartburg Seminary in Dubuque. They lived in Smithwick, South Dakota, and then, for 18 years, in Twin Falls, Idaho. They raised their four children in Twin Falls and she also taught HeadStart there. At Our Savior Lutheran Church in Twin Falls, she taught Sunday School and Vacation Bible School, directed the choir, and played the organ and piano.
After moving to Sioux Falls in 1977, Dolores taught elementary students at Bancroft and Eugene Field schools; volunteered at Ephphatha Services for the Deaf, volunteered for the backpack program at The Banquet, and was active in church women’s groups. Following retirement, Dolores and Gene joined Peace Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls, where she was active in quilting ministry and Bible studies. The couple lived at Good Samaritan Society’s Prairie Creek Lodge at the time of her passing.
Grateful for having shared her life are her husband, Reverend Eugene Tjarks, Sioux Falls, SD; three children, Dr. Mary Tjarks, Iowa City, IA, Dr. Brian Tjarks and his wife, Susan, Mitchell, SD, and Kathy Fitch and her husband, Bob, Hawarden, IA; son-in-law, Dale Hammond, Kimberly, ID; seven grandchildren, David Hammond, Christine (Adam) Kunz, Lori (Chris) Gillette, Erik (Ashley) Shewmaker, Katie (Brian) Hazen, Joel (Lindsay) Tjarks and Cole Fitch; eleven great-grandchildren, Elizabeth, Lilly, Liv, Lane, Madelyn, Zachary, Mitchell, Benjamin, Michael, Holly and Robert; one great-great granddaughter, Harley; one sister, Carol Wimpy of Boerne Glen, TX; and many other relatives and friends.
Dolores is preceded in death by her daughter, Pamela Hammond; her parents, Albert and Fern Ellermeier; and one brother, Marlyn Ellermeier.