BROOKINGS –– Daron Wayne Therkildsen, 45, of Brookings, passed away on Monday, April 6, 2026, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, after suffering a stroke. His memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 11, at Rude’s Funeral Home in Brookings, South Dakota. Visitation with the family present will take place one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Burial will be held at Restlawn Memory Gardens in Huron, at a later date. Memorials may be directed to the family or a charity of your choice.
Daron was born on August 9, 1980, in Huron, to Jeanine (Tschetter) Greenwood and Wayne M. Therkildsen. He spent much of his life in Huron and Rapid City, and also lived for a time in Germany. He was a member of the Class of 1999 from Huron High School.
Daron dedicated the past ten years of his career to working at 3M/Solventum in Brookings, where he was a valued and hardworking employee. Prior to 3M, he worked as a security guard at U.S. Geological Survey’s Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Center, Mundt Federal Building, in Sioux Falls.
Daron was known for his love of the outdoors and especially enjoyed hunting and fishing. He will be remembered for his quiet strength, his appreciation of nature, and the time he spent with those he cared about.
Daron is survived by his mother, Jeanine Greenwood; his father, Wayne (Pam) Therkildsen; his sisters, Tonja (Mike) Jungwirth and Christine Therkildsen; his step-sisters, Amy (Adam) Wilcox and Chae (Lorrin) O’Conner; his nieces and nephews, Chloe and Preslie Sheridan, Johnathon (Danielle), Amelia, and Ian Jungwirth; his grandmother, Jeanette Tschetter; and many uncles, aunts, and cousins. He also leaves behind his pets, Aspen and Asher.
He was preceded in death by his bonus dad, Doug Greenwood; grandparents, Iky Paul Tschetter, Melvin and Mildred Therkildsen; and a niece, Jessalyn June O’Connor.
Daron’s final gift to others was being an organ donor.
Leave a Reply