Laura "Lori" Lea Brewers

    Laura “Lori” Lea Brewers of Beresford, South Dakota, died on March 12, 2021.

    Funeral Service will be 2:00 p.m. Wednesday, March 17, 2021 at the United Church of Christ in Alcester, South Dakota, with Rev. Penny Nance officiating. Burial will follow in the Beresford City Cemetery in Beresford. Visitation will be after 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, with the family present from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. and a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m. at the United Church of Christ in Alcester. The Porter Funeral Home in Hawarden, Iowa is assisting the family.

   Laura “Lori” Lea Brewers, daughter of Donald and Merrilyn (McManaman) Finch, Sr., was born in New Mexico on December 12, 1960.  Not long after her birth, the family moved to Hawarden, Iowa, where Lori graduated from West Sioux Community School at the top of her class in 1979.  She graduated from Nettleton College in 1980.  She married her first husband, Dale Jurrens, in 1980.  Lori and Dale had two children together, Nicole Jorgensen and Neal Jurrens.  In 2007, Lori married Greg Brewers of Beresford, South Dakota.

   Lori greatly enjoyed her career as a legal assistant, working for the firm of Gubbrud and Haugland in Alcester, South Dakota, from shortly after college until 1996, and the Frieberg, Nelson & Ask firm in Beresford, South Dakota from 1996 until her retirement in November of 2019.  Lori loved listening to all types of music and spending time with her family and friends.  She most enjoyed boating and spending as much time as possible at the families’ second home near the Missouri River.  She was diagnosed with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (“ALS”) or Lou Gehrig’s Disease in 2018 but was determined to not let the disease take away her amazing spirit, positive attitude, outlook on life, and her ability to smile and laugh each day. Lori was a loving mother to Nicole and Neal, and stepsons Thomas and Hayden.  She inspired her family and friends by always seeing the best in others and every situation she faced.  Her laugh was contagious, and her love was genuine and endless.  She died peacefully at her home in Beresford, South Dakota, on March 12, 2021. 

   Lori is survived by her husband, Greg Brewers, of Beresford, South Dakota; daughter, Nicole Jorgensen and son-in-law Jessie Jorgensen of rural Beresford, South Dakota; son, Neal Jurrens of Beresford, South Dakota; step-son, Thomas Brewers of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; step-son, Hayden Brewers of Brookings, South Dakota; 2 step-grandchildren, KyLee and Emma Jorgensen;  step-father, Bernie Schiefen of Sun City, Arizona; brother, Terry Finch of Loveland, Colorado; sister, Linda Van Wyhe and her husband Larry Van Wyhe of Hawarden, Iowa; brother, Ronald “Buddy” Finch and his wife Sharon Finch of Loveland, Colorado; step-sister, Cheryl Ten Napel and her husband Robert Ten Napel of Ireton, Iowa; mother-in-law, Beth Brewers of Ghent, Minnesota; sister-in-law, Chris Pesch and her husband Jim Pesch of Taunton, Minnesota; and many nieces, and nephews.

   Lori was preceded in death by her father, Donald Finch, Sr.; her mother, Merrilyn Schiefen (McManaman); her brother, Donald I. Finch, Jr.; and her father-in-law, Thomas Brewers.