Heartland Funeral Home and Cremation Services

09/24/2025

09/22/2025

Robert “Bob” John Holbert
October 7, 1940 ~ September 20, 2025

Robert “Bob” J. Holbert, 84, Sioux Falls, SD, passed away on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at Good Samaritan Village in Sioux Falls.

A Memorial Service will be held at a later date.

October 7, 1940 ~ September 20, 2025 Robert “Bob” J. Holbert, 84, Sioux Falls, SD, passed away on Saturday, September 20, 2025, at Good Samaritan Village in Sioux Falls. A Memorial Service will be held at a later date. In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations be made to Active Gene

09/22/2025

Grief on the outside can look normal.

Especially when there’s no choice to go on with our lives. So we trudge on. And pretend we are ok. Cry only in the shower and behind closed doors. Hide swollen eyes behind the sunglasses. Fake the smiles. Try to blend in with the world…where everyone else seems to be ok..

But on the inside…

Everything is havoc.

Your mind spinning a constant typhoon of worries and anxiety.

How am I going to feel during the Holidays? Why can’t I focus? What if I never feel better? Am I grieving right? What is my purpose now?

Your body is exhausted. Waking up at 3am in the dark…realizing another day without them has come too soon. Then your mind takes over. A constant stream of the worst day re-playing on a loop. You toss and turn. Try to get through your day. Weary with dread. Then do it all over again.

Your digestion system is all over the place. Stress can cause overeating or not being able to eat at all. Leading to more exhaustion and stomach issues.

The nervous system is on overdrive. Constantly in fight or flight. The shock wearing off giving way to the understanding that the worse things can happen at any time. The feeling of being invincible has long vanished making way to a major sense of vulnerability.

There is a pain in your body that is hard to pinpoint. But it’s always there. Aching deeply. And it always hurts. Maybe a broken heart that radiates throughout.

If you resonate with this…

I want to give you some hope. I was there a few years ago. Staring out into that long, dark, uphill journey ahead. Storms raging inside my body. Exhausted. Knowing I had to do it solo because I was the only one who knew how I truly felt. Wanting so badly to go back to a time when life was easier. When my mom was still here.

I thought I would feel this way forever.

But things will get better in time. (And believe me I was very impatient with myself).

Just keep going. Do the next thing to make it through the next hour/day/week. Eventually things will begin to settle in your new and different world. The pain will lessen in time and sleep will increase. You will still carry the heaviness but the weight will even out so it’s not pinning you down. One day you will smile without faking it. I promise.

Listen. You are going through one of the hardest things possible. Give yourself lots of grace. When you make it through a hard day..congratulate yourself. When you have a setback..allow it and know that grief isn’t linear. There will be ups and downs and back and forwards. It’s messy. And awful. But you are doing it.

You are weathering the storm.

And I am so proud of you.

Just. Keep. Going.

Credit: The After Glow

09/22/2025

💙 Living with Dementia
Caring for someone with dementia comes with unique challenges, but small shifts in how we respond can make a world of difference.

Instead of correcting, arguing, or demanding, we can choose to reassure, encourage, and support. Gentle approaches not only reduce frustration but also preserve dignity and foster connection.

This list offers gentle reminders: agree instead of argue, reassure instead of lecture, and encourage instead of condescend. By approaching with empathy, we honor their dignity and create more moments of peace.

At Heartland, we know many families walk this journey with courage and love. You are not alone. 💙

09/16/2025

Tuesdays with Todd!

Todays Question: What should I do if a death occurs away from home?

Todd's Answer: If a death occurs away from home, the first thing to do is contact your local funeral home — the one you would like to handle the arrangements. They will take care of the details for you. Many people assume they should call a funeral home in the city where the death occurred, but your hometown funeral director can coordinate everything, including working with a funeral home in that area to bring your loved one home. This not only saves the family stress, but often saves money as well, since your funeral director knows the most efficient way to make the arrangements.

The most important step: call us first, no matter where the death occurs. We’ll walk you through what needs to be done.

09/13/2025

If you’re looking for a meaningful listen this month, here’s one that truly resonates.

This month’s podcast recommendation is a powerful and moving listen: “Let’s Hear It For the Kids – Grief in Their Own Words” from Grief Out Loud.

Children and teens often experience grief differently than adults. They may not always know how to express what they’re feeling, and their emotions can shift quickly — from laughter, to tears, to moments where they seem perfectly fine. All of these are normal and valid responses. The most important thing we can do is show them that it’s okay to grieve, to cry, to mourn, and to remind them that they are not alone.

This podcast features clips of children and teens sharing their own experiences of grief — what they miss about their loved ones, how loss has touched their lives, and the unique ways they navigate those emotions. It’s a deeply touching reminder of both the challenges and the resilience of grieving kids.

This episode is a reminder that grief has many voices, and each one deserves to be heard.

You can listen to the episode here: https://www.dougy.org/news-media/podcasts/lets-hear-it-for-the-kids-grief-in-their-own-words

09/12/2025

Bruce Lynn Dysthe
April 20, 1944 ~ September 12, 2025

Bruce L. Dysthe, 81, Beaver Creek, MN, passed away unexpectedly on Friday, September 12, 2025, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD.

A Celebration of Life Open House will be held from 10-11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, at Spirit of Truth Lutheran Church, Brandon. The Memorial Service will begin at 11:30 a.m. followed by full military honors. A livestream link will be provided before the service.

09/10/2025

Today is World Su***de Prevention Day.

Su***de is a major health problem that knows no social, economic, emotional, or environmental boundary.

According to the CDC - in the United States in 2023 - there were TWO times as many su***des as homicides, and su***de was the eleventh leading cause of death.

From the NIMH - here are the five ways you can help with su***de prevention:

1. ASK: 'Are you thinking about su***de?' - asking this question will NOT increase suicidal thoughts in someone.

2. BE THERE: Listen without judgment. Acknowledging and talking about su***de may help reduce the suicidal thoughts.

3. HELP KEEP THEM SAFE: Find out if they have a definitive plan. Take access away from lethal items if needed or move them to a different location.

4. HELP THEM CONNECT: Have them call a su***de helpline or connect with a mental health professional. Help them create a safety plan. Have a list of safe people they can talk to.

5. FOLLOW UP: Stay in touch with the person. Be supportive and have ongoing contact.

And always remember, if you are struggling, please know that you are not alone. Even though you may feel like the whole world is against you, there are SO many people who want to help you and want you to stay. There is always someone you can talk to.

You are loved, you are wanted, and you are needed. YOU ARE NOT ALONE.

The su***de helpline is 988. You can call 24 hours a day.

09/09/2025

✨ Supporting Someone Through Grief ✨

Recently, What’s Your Grief shared an Instagram poll asking people about the things they regretted saying or doing when trying to support someone who was grieving. From that poll came a list of 64 common regrets.

Over the next few months, we’ll be sharing pieces of this list. The goal isn’t to point fingers—we all do the best we can in difficult moments—but to help us reflect and learn.

By understanding what not to say or do, we can better focus on what truly matters: showing up with compassion, listening, and offering support in meaningful ways. 💙

1. I should have checked in more regularly and months later. It doesn't get better in a couple of weeks or months.
2. Never mentioning their loved one out of concern that it would 'upset' or 'remind' them.
3. Believing that saying nothing was better than saying the wrong thing.
4. Thinking that grief was only a reaction to death, so not realizing my friends were grieving when they went through a divorce, lost friends, lost a job, etc.
5. Sending mass cards instead of sympathy cards with a personal message.

Many people look back and wish they had shown up differently for someone who was grieving. Common regrets include not checking in often enough or continuing to reach out months later, avoiding mentioning the loved one’s name out of fear it might cause pain, or staying silent altogether because they worried about saying the wrong thing. Others regret not recognizing that grief can come from many kinds of losses beyond death, such as divorce, broken friendships, or losing a job. Some also wish they had taken more time to send a personal, heartfelt message instead of a more distant or impersonal gesture.

By reflecting on these regrets, we can learn to offer more meaningful support and remind those who are grieving that they are not alone.

Information obtained from: https://whatsyourgrief.com/64-grief-support-regrets/

09/05/2025

James “Waldo” Revillo Waldner
July 19, 1936 ~ September 2, 2025

James “Waldo” R. Waldner, 89, Sioux Falls, SD, passed away on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at the Tieszen Memorial Home in Marion.

A Celebration of Life Open House will begin at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at LifeChange Church, 6300 W. 41st, Sioux Falls, SD, with a Memorial Service beginning at 7:00 p.m. Burial with Military Honors will be at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 10, 2025, at the South Dakota Veteran’s Cemetery, 25965 477th Ave., Sioux Falls.

July 19, 1936 ~ September 2, 2025 James “Waldo” R. Waldner, 89, Sioux Falls, SD, passed away on Tuesday, September 2, 2025, at the Tieszen Memorial Home in Marion. A Celebration of Life Open House will begin at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, September 9, 2025, at LifeChange Church, 6300 W. 41st, Sioux