A funeral service for Trena Mae Vandenbark, 90, of Winner, South Dakota, was held Friday, July 3, 2026, at Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home in Gregory with Keven Vandenbark officiating. Music was provided by Kallie Farley, accompanied by Cindy Sealey on piano. Honorary casket bearers were all of Trena’s grandchildren. Inurnment will take place September 5, 2026, at Paul Cemetery in Paul, Idaho. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home of Gregory, South Dakota, is in charge of arrangements. Trena was born on December 1, 1935, and spent her early years in the Cache Valley area of Utah. As a teenager, she moved with her family to a farm in Heyburn, Idaho. She attended Ricks College and Brigham Young University, graduating from BYU with a bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education.
Trena taught kindergarten, first grade, and third grade in the Magic Valley area of Idaho, primarily in Hansen and Twin Falls, and retired from teaching in 1998. She later served two full-time missions for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Her first mission took her to Thailand, where she assisted local teachers with curriculum development, and her second mission was in Toronto, Canada.
After her missions, she moved to Winner, South Dakota, to be closer to two of her sons and grandchildren. There, she continued her lifelong commitment to service by volunteering as a tutor and assisting with the Retired Teachers Association.
She was a devoted mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, aunt, cousin, sister, and friend. Trena was always eager to make new friends and never met a stranger. She dedicated much of her time to volunteering and serving others.
Trena passed away on June 4, 2026, surrounded by her family. She will be remembered for her love of family and friends, her creative homemade crafts, her unique and wonderful sense of humor, and her enthusiasm for life. A woman of deep faith, Trena found great comfort in the gospel of Jesus Christ and the promise of eternal families.
She is survived by three of her four children: Keven (Kim) Vandenbark of Lennox, South Dakota, James (Mary Ann) Vandenbark of Olathe, Kansas, and Matthew (Kate) Vandenbark of Colome, South Dakota; 17 grandchildren; and 27 great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by her daughter Jana Roberts; her sister Janelle Arrington; and her brothers Vernon, Lynn, and Curtis.
