Dr. Nancy Myers Lankhorst

Dr. Nancy Lee Myers Lankhorst, 76, of Beresford, SD passed away peacefully at her home on April 1 ^st , 2023 after a courageous battle with pancreatic cancer. A funeral will be held on Saturday, April 8 ^th , at the Beresford United Church of Christ. Family will be present at 9:30 am, with services beginning at 10:30. Burial will be at Rosehill Cemetery in Parker, SD, in the Lankhorst family lot at a later time.

Nancy was born on September 11 ^th , 1946 at Fort Riley, Kansas to Orville L. and Isabelle R. Myers. She grew up in Sturgis, South Dakota and graduated valedictorian of her high school class at Sturgis High School. She received her bachelor’s degree in English from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion, a master’s degree in Library Science from Kansas State University in Emporia, as well as a Master’s of Business Administration and Doctorate of Education from USD.

Nancy retired professor emeritus from USD in 2006 after 35 years. During her tenure at USD she shared her passion for research with many students and faculty members. In addition to her professorial duties at I.D. Weeks Library, she served as the University’s Affirmative Action Officer. She served on numerous state and local boards and authored numerous publications. After retirement she served as librarian of Beresford High School, as well as library director at National American University in Sioux Falls.

Nancy had many passions and interests, including over 50 years involvement with her college sorority, Alpha Phi. She served on the board and was otherwise highly engaged with her church, the United Church of Christ, in Beresford. Following a lifelong interest, she began taking piano lessons with dear friend Sandy DeSaix in 1999, and would continue to study regularly until her diagnosis in December of 2021. Nancy loved dogs, especially Chihuahuas, and was involved with the American Kennel Club and Chihuahua Club of America for decades. She loved being on the water with her family, and she loved to travel, with favorites including India, Ireland, Yucatán, and Egypt. She was an avid gardener and reader, sometimes reading up to a book a day. If you weren’t sure what a plant was called, there was a very good chance Nancy could tell you. She was also very creative with an eye for design, and realized a lifelong goal of building her dream home in 2019.

Grateful for having shared her life are her husband of 45 years Royal Lankhorst and their daughter Isabelle Lankhorst, brother Bruce (Margaret) Myers, nephew David (Joyce) Broaddus, nieces Melissa Myers and Deborah Henry, nephews Jason and Brent Spielmann, and sisters-in-law Candy (Eric Olson) Lubben, and Connie (Mark) Greguson, who lovingly cared for her in her final days. She also leaves behind many cherished friends.

She is preceded in death by her parents, her brothers Patrick Myers and George Hamling, a sister Edith (Hamling) Broadus, and brother-in-law Don Broadus.

The family would like to express its heartfelt thanks to the many caring professionals on her team who so graciously and compassionately gave their medical, spiritual and logistical support, as well as many generous acts too numerous to include here.

Nancy truly loved all of life, and we truly loved her. She will be sorely missed.