PIERRE, SD – Lynne Whitaker,74, required surgery to her shoulder and hip in December and April, sadly she died on April 7, 2025 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. A memorial service will be held at 5:00pm on Saturday April 26th at Larkspur Landing in Pierre, the family will greet visitors starting at 2:00pm. For those unable to attend the service it will be live streamed via Zoom ID9811742444 and the password is 443137.

Lynne Whitaker (nee: Malm) was born on March 30, 1951 to Vernon and Rose Malm in rural Lindsburg, KS. She received her education at Mount Hope Elementary School and graduated from Lindsburg High School. After 3 years at the University of Kansas, Lynne graduated with a bachelor of science degree in journalism in 1971. She was soon hired as a reporter/photographer for Mitchell Daily Republic Newspaper and won several awards for her reporting and photography skills.

She eventually went to work for the Brookings Register where she met Donald Durfey from Sisseton, SD, a SDSU alum employed as a park ranger at Oakwood State Park. They wed in April of 1976 and relocated to Hot Springs, SD. Lynne took an interest in Bible education and began studying the Bible with Jehovah’s Witnesses. She was baptized in 1982. Her husband joined her in teaching Bible lessons in 1983 but tragically died five weeks after attending the yearly convention of JW’s.

Lynne continued to be zealous in the ministry and was introduced to Jim Whitaker, from Pierre, SD, on a “hayride” arranged by their friends. Jim and Lynne had similar goals and were married in October of 1983. Their desire to continue in the ministry prompted them to attend the Pioneer School in May of 1985. They worked full time in the ministry together for three years until Jim began secular work to continue supporting Lynne in her full-time service. Throughout their life together they helped in the construction of 20 Kingdom Halls of JW’s throughout South Dakota, Wyoming and Nebraska.

The couple were blessed with the birth of their son, Nathan, in April of 1987 and a second son, Noah, in July of 1989. Lynne continued her zealous teaching of Bible truths, often with over 50 hours per month throughout most of her life. She followed her dedication to Jehovah God, conducting several Bible studies at the SD Women’s Prison in Pierre.

Lynne was preceded in death by her parents and her first husband.

Lynne is survived by her husband Jim of Pierre; her son Nathan and grandsons; Ian and Gunnar of Fond Du Lac, WI; her son Noah and his wife Kira and grandchildren; Janon, Appian, Odaylia, Zellia and Callaia of Black Hawk, SD.

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