Brenda Sumner

Brenda Sumner, of Dawson, died Saturday, September 17, 2022 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of 71.

Memorial services will be held Friday, September 23, 2022 at 11:00 AM at Grace Lutheran Church in Dawson.  Rev. Kendall Stelter will officiate and interment will be at Grace Lutheran Cemetery.

Visitation will be held Thursday at Hanson & Dahl Funeral Home in Dawson from 5-7:00 PM with a prayer service at 6:30 PM.  There will also be visitation for one hour before the service at the church.

Brenda Gail (Paul) Sumner was born March 28, 1951 in Canby, MN the daughter of William and Jean (Thompson) Paul.  She was confirmed at First Lutheran Church in Marshall and attended Marshall High School.  She was united in marriage with the love of her life, Harlowe Sumner, on November 30, 1974 in Milbank, SD.  They lived in Ortonville and Brookings before they eventually made their home in Washburn, ND in the late 1970's. They moved back home to Dawson in 1996.  She owned and operated Sumner’s Gnometown Family Restaurant for several years and was also a server at the Swedish Inn, C.J. Mike’s, The Co-op Cafe, the VFW, and Wanda’s Coffee Cup Café.  She enjoyed visiting with customers and making them smile with her delicious home cooked food. Brenda loved her friends like family.  She enjoyed playing games (as long as she didn’t lose) with her family and friends especially Bingo and Yahtzee. Her favorite hobby by far was spending time with her grandkids and spoiling them. She enjoyed canning with the vegetables from Harlowe’s garden and the whole family anxiously awaited her Salsa. Her family meant everything to her and she loved telling everyone about them. 

She is survived by her husband, Harlowe; five daughters: Kristy (Jeff) Schaner of Mandan, ND, Jessica (Travis) Ziebarth of Ray, ND, Andrea (Chris) Sumner of Washburn, ND, Samantha (Isaac) Mork of Bellingham, MN and Alexandra (Special friend Justin) Sumner of Dawson, MN; fourteen grandchildren: Terra (Devin) Berger, Jeffrey Schaner, Tonya Schaner, Kyle (Angie) Schaner, Kayla (Ian) Williams, Scott (Callie) Ziebarth, Allison Ziebarth, Rachel Pfleiger, Mathew Pfleiger, Garrett Pfleiger, Easton Mork, Zachary Mork, Claire Mork, and Logan Sumner; nine great-grandchildren: Jett, Austin, Jacob, Ethan, Liam, Kaleigh, Everhett, Piper and Everly; two brothers: Allen (Janice) Paul of Marshall, MN and Tab (Diane) Paul of Foreston, MN; two sisters: Sharon (special friend Gil)) Paul of Marshall, MN and Kim (Jeremy) Barck of Marshall, MN; a sister-in-law Deb Paul; and many nieces and nephews.

Preceding her in death were her parents, William and Jean Paul; her in-laws, Clarence Hove and Phyllis Sumner and Emily Sumner; a brother, Steve Paul, and a niece and godchild, Holly.