Juanita Kingsbury

Juanita Kingsbury, 76, of Wood, S.D. passed away on Saturday, October 11, 2025 at the Winner Regional Long-Term Care Facility in Winner, S.D. A memorial service was held on Saturday, October 18, 2025 at 10:00 a.m. at the Wood Community Hall. Burial followed in the White River Cemetery. A visitation was held one hour prior to service.

Juanita Kingsbury was born in Murdo, S.D. March 21, 1949, the fourth of six children of Robert and Thelma Iverson. October 11, 2025, at the Long Term Care Center in Winner, S.D. she finished her battle and started her journey to Heaven with loved ones by her side.

She spent her youth in Murdo and during her high school years worked summers in cafes serving the tourists and combine crews. On June 17, 1967, she was united in marriage to Kenneth Kingsbury and committed the rest of her life to being a ranch wife, mother, grandmother and community member on a ranch near Wood, S.D. To this union, two children we born, Kendra and David.

Nita loved children, first her own and then everyone else’s. Her door was always open to the younger extended family for an afternoon, overnight, a weekend or even the summer. Her spotless house was always changing with different color combinations of paint and wallpaper. She also loved to combine colors of fabrics and yard to make beautiful quilts and afghans, many of which became gifts to family and friends. She loved to travel and was able to see England, Scotland, France, Quebec, New Brunswick and most of the cities in the North East and Midwest and Las Vegas.

Another hobby she enjoyed was refinishing old oak furniture. Scraping away the paint and grime, restoring them to beautiful pieces for her home. Her favorite kind of gardening was flower gardens and especially loved rose bushes.

Her two grandsons, Spencer and Cody, were her absolute pride and joy and it only took them walking in a room to light up her face. She spoiled them rotten and was beyond proud of them. She was lucky enough to have them live on the same ranch all through their childhood and only a short walk away.

Health problems came too early in her life and diminished her ability to continue many of the activities she loved. She loved to drive (and fast), and unfortunately was not able to do that for some time. She always remained strong, put on a smile and kept going.

October 11, 2025, at the Long Term Care Center in Winner, S.D. she finished her battle and started her journey to Heaven with loved ones by her side .

She is survived by her husband of 58 years, Ken Kingsbury of Wood, daughter Kendra (Duane) Earll of Wood, son David (Dee Dee) Kingsbury of Pierre, grandsons Spencer Earll of Wood,  Cody (Tawny Gropper) Earll, Mitchell, S.D., sisters Darlene Inglis, Bristol, Conn., Judith Brost, Sioux Falls, S.D. and Jennifer (Ole) Olson of Piedmont, S.D., numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. She was preceded in death by her parents Robert and Thelma Iverson, brother Robert and Barry Iverson, Brothers-in-law Dick Inglis and Dallas Brost.