Deanna Brooks

Funeral services for Deanna Brooks were held on Friday, December 1, 2023, at 2:00 p.m. at the St. Joseph Catholic Church in Gregory, SD, with Father Jonathan Dillon officiating.

Music was provided by the St. Joseph Choir, accompanied by Mary Beth Gergen, pianist.

Doug Stukel was lector, altar servers were Gabe Ekroth and Eli Ekroth, gift bearers were Tianna Brooks and Riley Brooks.

Urn bearers were Zachery Barber, Channing Barber Ty Warkenthien, Evan Warkenthen, Mason Brooks, Brooklyn Brooks and Braxton Brooks.

Interment was in the St. Joseph Catholic Cemetery in Gregory, SD. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Deanna Jean Brooks passed away on Wednesday, November 22, 2023, at the age of 84 years.

Deanna was born on May 19, 1939, to Walter and Rose (Klukas) Willman in Wessington Springs, SD. She was the youngest of five children - Willard, Maynard, Donna, Bob, and Deanna.

Deanna grew up in Wessington Springs, where she graduated from high school in 1957, and went on to Huron College where she was a cheerleader, and Homecoming Princess and earned her Bachelor of Business Administration and Education with a Minor in Physical Education in 1961. During her time at Huron College, she met the love of her life, George Marvin Brooks. They were married on June 16, 1962, in Wessington Springs. Deanna and George had five children - Brett, Craig, Brad, Kevin and Dustin.

Deanna’s careers were many and included teaching, coaching, homemaking, and mother to five rambunctious boys. Her teaching career covered typing, shorthand, secretarial science, elementary school, special education, and physical education. She began her first year of teaching in 1961, and taught for over 20 years within the Lennox, Iroquois, Philip, Burke, and Gregory school districts. Deanna had the honor of being the first coach for the girls’ varsity volleyball program in Philip. Deanna knew how important education is and dedicated herself to improving each student’s intellect and person.

Deanna’s hobbies included baking, traveling, boating, camping, playing Sudoku, and going on walks with George. She spent countless hours watching her sons and grandchildren compete in sporting events and was always their biggest cheerleader. Deanna was a devoted Catholic and rarely missed a Sunday at church.

Deanna was someone that everyone knew they could count on. Once retired from teaching, she and George traveled the country (and world) RVing and visiting family and friends. Sadly, their traveling was cut short as Deanna was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and became a resident of Avera Rosebud County Care Center for the past six years.

Deanna is preceded in death by parents Walter and Rose Willman; her brothers Robert (Bob) and Willard; and her husband George Brooks, of 57 years, at the time of his passing in 2019.

She is survived by her children and their families: Brett and Kay Brooks; Craig and Patty Brooks and their four children, Zachery and Anastasia, Channing and Chloe, Ty and Ashley, and Evan; Brad and Laurel Brooks and their children Riley and Mason; Kevin Brooks and his children Tianna, Brooklyn, and Braxton; Dustin and Jennifer Brooks; her great-grandchildren, Owen, Taytum, and Halle; her brother Maynard; sister Donna; and numerous nieces and nephews.