Spencer Valere Hollis Brende

Spencer Valere Hollis Brende was a Silver Life Master in Duplicate Bridge.  Counting cards, he died in his sleep, at home, on March 4, 2022.  He was 91.  A private graveside service will be held at the family cemetery at a later date.  Mohr & Becker-Hunt Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.  Online condolences may be made to www.meyerbroschapels.com.

On July 12, 1930, he was the first baby born at Sioux Valley Hospital in Sioux Falls, to father Peter Henry Brende and mother Esther Ermine (Lyng) Brende, of Renner, SD.  In 1956, he married Elizabeth Jeanne Noll of Sioux Falls and loved her his entire life.  They had five children.  He went on to a teaching and coaching career after graduating from the University of South Dakota in 1952.  Spence spoke most fondly of his time, as a boy, playing shortstop for Sioux Falls Post #15 Baseball Team, which won the State Championship in 1945. He was 15 years old.

He leaves Anthony and Laura Brende, Worthing, SD; Timothy Brende, Dakota Dunes, SD, Michele Brende, Sioux City, IA, Mary and John Amsler, Austin, TX, and Troy and Ami Brende, Urbandale, IA.

He’ll miss his 11 grandchildren: Nicholas, Jennifer, Bret, Katie, Casey, Quinton, Donovan, Luke, Jordan Michele, Alexander, Spenser; and his 9 great-grandchildren.

Spence was a Korean War Veteran and wanted to tell Elaine how much he loved her letters.