Ronald L Hendrix

Ronald L. Hendrix, age 84, of Sherman, SD, passed away Sunday, September 6, 2026, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD.

A come and go visitation will be from 12:00 pm to 3:00 pm on Saturday, September, 12, 2026 at the Minnehaha Funeral Home in Garretson, SD. Burial will follow at Zion Lutheran Cemetery in Garretson.

Memorials may be directed to the Garretson Ambulance Fund.

Ron was born on August 5, 1942, to Lyle and Elaine (Stoner) Hendrix in Deadwood, SD. Ron spent his childhood in Gillette, WY prior to moving to Carthage, SD with his family in 1952.Ron graduated from Carthage High School in 1961. He played basketball and football; the Detroit Lions even came to one of his games to scout him. His love for westerns and all things cowboy started young; he began wearing cowboy hats and boots to school and joked about how mad it made his father to wear them. 

Ron married his high school sweetheart, Margaret (Cavanaugh) in 1961, and they moved to Gillette, WY, where they welcomed their first son Kevin. While there, Ron worked in the coal mines. The Hendrix’s moved to Carthage, SD in 1966, after Deb was born. There, Ron worked with his father Lyle at his mechanic shop that did work for local farmers. Their youngest daughter, Kim, was born in 1968. The young family then moved to Valley Springs, SD. At that time, Ron drove truck for Iseman Mobile Homes and Palisades Oil. Margaret passed in 1987. 

Ron met Janie Ellefson, and gained a bonus son, Jason Ellefson, when they married in 1988 in Garretson, SD. Ron and Janie devoted their lives to their family, animals, and friends. They were very involved in the local community and volunteered with Handi-Riders, local EMTs, and the local 4-H chapter. They enjoyed camping with their horse friends, hosting sleepovers for grandchildren, nieces and nephews, and raising Newfoundland puppies. Ron worked for the City of Sioux Falls as a mechanic and heavy machine operator at the landfill; he retired after 22 years. 

Grateful for sharing his life are: his daughter, Deb Hendrix of Dell Rapids, SD; his daughter, Kim Banghart of Sioux Falls, SD, with grandchild Kelly (Brook) with great-grandchildren, Holden and Dade of Sioux Falls, SD, grandchild Kristina Callies with great-grandchild, Wyatt of Sioux Falls, SD, and grandchild, Ashley Brown and great-grandchildren, Evelyn and Raylen of Brandon, SD; step-son, Jason (Jill) Ellefson with grandchildren, Lane, Blair, and Drew of Sherman, SD; his sisters, Barbara Bauer of Sioux Falls, SD, Nancy (Kevin) Miller of Jamestown, ND, and Trude (Bob) Hendrickson of Mesa, AZ; his brothers and sisters-in-law, Robert (Shirley) Ellefson of Ankeny, IA, Judy Ellis of Sherman, SD, Richard (Rosalie) Ellefson of LeMars, IA, Raymond (Tami) Ellefson of Sioux Falls, SD, Royal (Darcy) Ellefson of Garretson, SD, Ryan (Donna) Ellefson of Watertown, SD, and Ronnie Ellefson of Sioux Falls, SD. He is also survived by numerous nieces, nephews, and friends. 

Ron was preceded in death by his parents; son, Kevin Hendrix; infant twin sons; step-grandson, Reese Ellefson; his wives, Margaret (Cavanaugh) Hendrix, and Janie Ellefson-Hendrix; and brother, Russell Hendrix.