Loren James Boone (South Dakota State ’72) entered the Chapter Eternal on May 4, 2024, at the age of 74. Brother Boone was a February 27, 1971, Charter Initiate of the South Dakota Theta Chapter, and as a collegiate member, he wrote the chapter newsletter. After graduating, he served as South Dakota Theta’s Chapter Advisor from 1973 to 1989, during which he created the Chapter’s Dollar-A-Year Club, chartered its Alumni Association, and served two terms as House Corporation President. Boone served 15 years on Province Tau’s Council and 10 years as Province Archon.
He was a faculty member for eight Leadership Schools and served as chairman of SAE’s Member Education Committee. Brother Boone and his wife, Deanna, have provided Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s South Dakota Theta Chapter with extensive financial support, helping fund academic scholarships, registration fees to national leadership events, student travel, alumni programs, and chapter housing. He was co-chairman of a fundraising campaign that opened a new chapter house at South Dakota State University in August 2013.
On July 17, 2021, at Sigma Alpha Epsilon’s 165th Anniversary Convention, Brother Boone was presented with SAE’s highest recognition, the Distinguished Service Award, for his commitment and service to the Fraternity. He was previously recognized with the Merit Key Award. Brother Boone was a True Gentleman to his core.
On a personal note, Brother Boone is recognized by many as a writer, editor, walker, volunteer, donor, event planner, flower gardener, loyal friend, and, most of all, devoted husband. The last thing he wanted was to be defined by the cancer he had battled since 2015 and especially a hard fight since late 2021. Rather, he asked to be remembered for those things he loved the most and for being a person who, until the pandemic, brought people together for fun and fellowship. That became more difficult as the pandemic eased and his health declined. But his curiosity and care for others never waned.
On September 8, 1973, Brother Boone married Deanna Knutson in Brookings, South Dakota, where they made their home while he worked at South Dakota State University, his alma mater, where he earned a journalism degree in 1972. He had been an All-State High School Journalist in his hometown in Britton, so writing and editing was a natural direction for him.
Professionally, he had started his career as a reporter for The Huron Daily Plainsman in Huron, South Dakota, before becoming news editor at The Brookings Register in 1973. He spent 40 years in higher education communications, first at South Dakota State University, then Ripon College in Ripon, Wisconsin (1989-2005), and finally at St. Cloud State University in St. Cloud, Minnesota, as assistant vice president of marketing and communication (2005-2016).
In addition to his service with SAE, Brother Boone volunteered much of his time in retirement, managing the Ripon Community Dinner, sponsored by the First Congregational Church. He was known to seek volunteer opportunities that would enhance the community. He proudly served on the South Dakota State University Council of Trustees, always a Jackrabbit at heart.
Over the years, he was very active in the Optimist Club of Brookings, where he served as president. In Ripon, he focused on community-wide involvement, including the Chamber of Commerce, and served as president. He also was chair of the Little White Schoolhouse committee and received the Chamber’s Distinguished Service award.
Brother Boone is survived by his wife Deanna, of Ripon; three brothers: Robert (Norma) Boone of Amherst, South Dakota, Gerald Boone of Gulfport, Mississippi; and Kim (Sally) Boone of Albany, Oregon; brother-in-law Duane Knutson of Brookings, South Dakota; sister-in-law Doreen (Richard) Hemish of Canby, Minnesota; as well as numerous nieces and nephews and his special feline friend, Miss Granite.
He is preceded in death by his grandparents, Gerrit and Jacoba (Cleveringa) Boone and Harry and Pearl (Farrington) Swan; his parents, James and Gladys (Swan) Boone; brother Dennis Lee Boone in 2019; nephew Robert Boone in 1982; and feline friends Watson, Ceresco, Max and Lady Slipper.
Brother Boone was delighted to be entrusted as spiritual godfather for T.J. Hitchman, Cedar Falls, Iowa; Tom Fishback, Brookings, South Dakota; Amy Smith DeKanick, Dayton, MN; Scott Smith; Mahtomedi, Minnesota; Gretchen Iverson, Minneapolis, Minnesota, and Christopher Lyke, Austin, Texas.
Visitation for Brother Boone will be from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at First Congregational Church, 220 Ransom St., Ripon, Wisconsin. A memorial service will occur at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 11, 2024, at First Congregational Church in Ripon, with Rev. Jeffrey Dodson officiating. You may view a live stream of the service by visiting this LIVESTREAM link. Inurnment will occur on Saturday, May 18, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. at First Lutheran Cemetery, Brookings, South Dakota. The cemetery entrance is located on the north side of West 8th Street S., just east of the intersection with 16th Avenue W.
Please visit the Butzin Marchant Funeral Home website for more information, as well as a tribute photo collage.
