Jan Endes

Memorial services will be held 11:00 a.m., Saturday, August 9, 2025, at the White River Community Events Center in White River. A meal and fellowship will follow the service.

A private family interment will be held at a later time at the White River Cemetery. Rush Funeral Home of Philip is in charge of arrangements.

Jan Endes was born on November 22, 1954, to Ray and Peggy (Risewick) Woods in Winner, SD. She was the oldest of five siblings—three sisters (Sue, Linda, Anita) and one brother (Dale). The family lived in Colome, SD, where she attended school, graduating in 1973.

After graduation, she earned a degree from National College of Business in Rapid City, SD. She moved back to Winner where she worked in the Tripp County Auditor’s office for several years. She began attending square dances in the White River area with her cousin where she was introduced to Tom Endes.

On September 18, 1993, Jan and Tom were married. They spent many years caring for the ranch. In her free time, Jan enjoyed planting flowers each spring to beautify their country home. She loved to cross stitch and work with plastic canvas to create many items such as organizing boxes and doll furniture, which she often gifted to her nieces, nephews, and grandchildren. She also loved to read, do puzzles, and collect movies. She was an encyclopedia on actors and actresses from many classic movies.

Jan dedicated much of her life to the White River Lions as secretary with Tom as president and treasurer. Together they traveled the state participating in state conventions and area activities. You could always find Jan lending a hand—whether helping with the Santa event at the Mellette County Museum or decorating for local Trunk-or-Treat festivities— creating lasting memories for community members in the area.

As the daughter of a WWII Bomber Pilot, Jan had interest in joining the Air Force but couldn’t meet their weight requirements due to her petite size. She was passionate about helping military veterans and was a member of the Winner VFW #4674. She served in many local, state, and national offices including secretary, vice president, and president. She shared her musical talent by serving as State Musician and most recently was the Assistant National Musician. She served on many local, state, and national chairmanships.

Though Jan and Tom did not have children of their own, they found great joy in spending time with their nieces and nephews, and later in life, with neighbors who became like grandchildren to them.

Jan was a member of the St. Paul Lutheran Church in White River, SD for many years. She was a very gifted musician and played organ for the church in White River and Mission for many years.

Jan Rae (Woods) Endes, 70, of White River, SD, passed away on Saturday, July 12, 2025, at the Kadoka Nursing Home. Jan was a 20-year breast cancer survivor. In the last two years of her life, she faced a new challenge with bone cancer, for which there was no effective treatment.

Jan is survived by her husband Thomas Endes of Kadoka; her “adopted” children, Jennifer and Lealand Schoon of White River and their children, whom she loved as her own grandchildren—Seth, Adrik, Jesse, Reagan, and Brielle Schoon; her siblings, Linda (Gary) Bowers of Holdrege, NE, Anita Neitzel of Tyndall, SD, and Dale (Regina) Woods of Cabot, AR; brothers- and sisters-in-law, Marie Amen of Hagerman, NM, John Endes of Casper, WY, June (Jim) Land of Gillette, WY, and Ernest Endes of Carlsbad, NM; and numerous nieces, nephews, great-nieces and nephews, family, and friends.

Jan is preceded in death by her parents Ray and Peggy (Risewick) Woods; sister Susan Brozik; brothers-in-law Lonnie Brozik and Michael Neitzel; sisters-in-law Viola Kranenberg and Edith Stapperfenne.

Memorial Donations may be sent in care of the family to the South Dakota Lions Foundation SFSD or the VFW National Home, Easton Rapids, Michigan. Cards and memorials may be sent to P.O. Box 215 White River, SD 57579.