Sam Sorensen, 75
Sam Sorensen, 75, of Freeman, S.D., passed away Sunday, Dec. 15, 2024 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D. A funeral service will be held Monday, Dec. 23 at 11 a.m. at Bethany Mennonite Church in Freeman. Visitation will be from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, Dec. 22 at the church.
In Memory of Samuel Chester Sorensen
Samuel Chester Sorensen was born Feb. 8, 1949 in Vermillion, S.D., to Marjorie and Chester Sorensen. Sam started his life on a farm near Irene, S.D., and moved to Freeman in 1960 with his family. He grew up and graduated from Freeman High School. On June 6, 1965, Sam was baptized by Rev. William Unrau at Bethany Mennonite Church where he was a faithful member until his death.
On May 17, 1969, Sam married his high school sweetheart, Linda K. Goertz and from this marriage four WONDERFUL children were born: Shelly Kay, Jason Samuel, Kerri Jo, and Ryan Heath. Sam and Linda have lived their whole life loving their children and grandchildren. Their love for camping, fishing and family vacations gave the whole family a lifelong list of memories which cannot ever be taken away.
From January 1969 to February 1971 Sam served in the US Army and was a Vietnam veteran. Since 1971, Sam served 48 years in the agriculture business with various job titles, except for a three-year term as assistant branch manager of the Pameco Corporation. In May of 2012, Sam became the mayor of Freeman and served eight years following in his dad’s footsteps. On Dec. 31, 2015, Sam retired and took on a part-time maintenance job at the Salem Mennonite Home, which he loved doing.
Throughout Sam’s life, he held many offices in the community, but his greatest accomplishments were Sam’s LOVE of his wife, children and grandchildren. Sam always thought you are put on this earth to serve and that’s why he loved serving people as mayor, belonging to the Lions Club, serving his church as leader of committees, teaching Sunday school for 22 years, being a part of the AWANA program, and heading up the Food Pantry with his wife. Sam also enjoyed camping, fishing and hunting with his grandpa, dad and especially his sons and grandchildren.
Those left to cherish Sam’s memory are his wife, Linda; four children: daughter Shelly Johnson and friend Duane of Black Hawk, S.D., grandson Austin, wife Kaleigh and great-granddaughters Kimberleigh and Everleigh of Pierre, S.D., granddaughter Ashley Dillow, husband Ben and great-grandson Bradley of Palmer, Ark., granddaughter Abigail, wife Rebecca and great-granddaughter Taytum of Dickinson, N.D.; son Jason and Lori of Chamberlain, S.D., granddaughter Makenzie, friend Ruger and great-grandson Benelli of Chamberlain, grandson Tyler and friend Cassidy of Mitchell, S.D.; daughter Kerri and Dave of Freeman, S.D., grandson Jalen and wife Anne of Brookings, S.D., Bradey and friend Maddie of Sioux Falls; son Ryan, wife Amy and grandsons Tate, Brody, Hayes and Nash of Freeman; brother Keith and wife Deloris of Beaver Dam, Wis., brother David and wife Peggy of Yankton, S.D, and sister Mary Ann and husband Stuart of Marion, S.D.; sister-in-law Brenda Streyle and husband Larry of Menno, S.D., sister-in-law Janet Christensen and husband Joe of Sioux Falls; and a host of nieces and nephews.
Preceding Sam in death were grandparents Jens and Nina Sorensen, Joyce and Fred Mayer, mother Marjorie, father Chester, mother-in-law Faye Goertz, father-in-law Marvin Goertz, sister Julie Ann, brother Tim, nephew Jamie, niece JulieAnn, two brother-in-law’s Dale and Gary Goertz and son-in-law Brad Johnson.
