Renea Kirby
January 22, 1942 ~ May 21, 2026
Born in: Lebanon, South Dakota
Resided in: Lebanon, South Dakota
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Renea Kirby, age 84, left her temporary home and entered her eternal home with her Lord and Savior on Thursday, May 21, 2026, surrounded by family at the Avera Oahe Manor, Gettysburg.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, May 29, 2026, at Grace Bible Church, Gettysburg with Pastor Logan Nyquist presiding. Burial will follow in the Gettysburg Cemetery. A prayer service will be held at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, May 28, 2026, at the church with visitation one hour prior.
Renea Umiker was born on January 22, 1942, to John F. and Marie (VanBockel) Umiker who resided at Whitlock Crossing. She was born at the Peter and Rena VanBockel farm five miles south of Lebanon, SD. When Renea was one, they left Whitlock Crossing and moved to their family farm.
Renea’s elementary years were spent at Roy School, located one mile down the road. She went to Gettysburg High School, graduating in 1959. After high school she attended the National School of Business in Rapid City, SD and was then employed by the State of South Dakota in Pierre with the Proration and Reciprocity Division for two years.
On February 24, 1962, she married the handsome (as she lovingly referred to him) Kenneth Kirby. They made their home of 64 years just two miles down the road from where she grew up. They were blessed with four children: Kevin, Lee, Kelly, and Kari.
Renea was dedicated to raising her family and working alongside Ken in every aspect of the farm. She put in many hours milking cows and tending her large garden, canning enough food to feed her family all year long. She helped raise the pigs, chickens, and cows and loved to spend time outside. She kept an immaculate yard adorned with beautiful flowers. An avid cleaner, her house was kept spotless – one could rarely find a speck of dust.
For many years, Renea worked in the office at the Gettysburg Livestock on sale days. In 1991 she started working at Paul Nelson Lodge, first cleaning a few times each season before eventually helping in the kitchen for over thirty-two years. Renea was an excellent cook and fed many men around her kitchen table. Her caramel rolls, coffee chocolate cake, monster cookies, homemade noodles, as well as many other items, are well known.
Renea was a member of Grace Bible Church. She served as the treasurer for many years, taught Sunday School, volunteered as a youth group leader, and helped with Awana. She was always ready to serve when painting, staining, or cleaning was needed at the church. She and Ken hosted Bible studies in their home and touched many lives through this. Renea was a member of the REA Club (Roy, Ellida, Avon Spring), and both Ken and Renea were 4-H leaders when their kids were young. Community members knew her for her love of visiting. She didn’t know a stranger and always found someone to talk to no matter where she went
Renea loved to crochet, particularly potholders and afghans that she made for everyone in her family. Another of her favorite hobbies was to refinish furniture. In their early years, Ken and Renea loved to square dance, bowl, and roller skate. Later, they loved to follow their grandchildren’s activities and spent many hours cheering at their sporting events. They loved their grandchildren dearly and were adored by each of them. Their love for each other was seen by everyone as they were often holding hands wherever they went.
Renea is survived by her faithful and loving husband, Ken; children: Kevin (Lori) Kirby of Barry TX, Lee (Pam) Kirby of Midlothian, TX, Kelly (Renee) Kirby of Gettysburg, SD, and Kari (Rick) Decker of Gettysburg, SD; siblings: Eldon Umiker (Hot Springs), Verna Fransen (Pierre), Bernadine Hinckley (Pierre), and John D. Umiker (Lebanon); twelve grandchildren: Kendall (Paul) Wolf, Kassie (Val) Rich, Jayd (Carlee) Kirby, Jody Kirby, Jason (Jackie) Andrada, Jeff (Codi) Andrada, Brooke (Aaron) Johnson, Carson (Hannah) Kirby, Kolten (Tiffany) Kirby, Cameron (Brady) Swier, Calen Decker, and Logan Decker; nineteen great grandchildren (with number twenty on the way); sister-in-law, Theresa Kirby; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.
Renea is preceded in death by her parents, John and Marie Umiker; sister, Marcia Ann; in-laws, Lee and Lois Kirby; brothers-in-law, Harlan Fransen, Malcolm Hinckley, and Francis Kirby; and sister-in-law, Marilyn Umiker.
Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg has been entrusted with Renea’s arrangements.
Services
Prayer Service: Thursday, May 28, 2026 7:00 pm
Grace Bible Church
310 S. Broadway
Gettysburg, South Dakota 57442
Funeral Service: Friday, May 29, 2026 10:30 am
Grace Bible Church
310 S. Broadway
Gettysburg, South Dakota 57442
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We first met Renae and Kenny at their grandson (Carson) & our granddaughter ((Hannah Hager) wedding in North Dakota on October 1st, 2022.
About a year later, we were passing through Lebanon, and took Hannah to lunch (I believe Carson was in the field working) at a quaint little restaurant in Gettysburg. Who would be there eating lunch…. but Renae and Kenny. Larry and I had such a nice one-on-one visit with them. Such a lovely couple! We will cherish that memory forever! Our prayers are being extended from Southern Missouri to Lebanon, South, Dakota. May the Lord bless each one of you, and give you strength!
I remember being in her Sunday school class and always feeling LOVED. She radiated the joy of the Lord and was a model of a godly woman for me. I rejoice with you, knowing that she is now with her savior, and pray for your comfort in the days ahead.
✝️🙏🙏✝️
Love & Prayers
Chuck & Dawnita Forell
Dear Family of Renea Kirby,
I send you my sympathy for her death. God bless you.
My first memories of Rene go back to the mid to late 1940s. My mother and Renea‘s mother as sisters were very close while growing up, so each summer – usually around 4 July – my mother, my younger sister, Betty, and I would visit the Umiker farm. These were the days before electricity, when out houses and wood-burning Cook stoves were the Norm. For city kids like us, it was quite an experience.
The Umiker Farm had cows, a bull, horses, pigs, sheep, chickens, ducks, geese, turkey, and more. I remember that Rene would get up before the rest of us kids to do her chores – feeding, watering, milking, collecting eggs, and whatever else needed to be done. I never heard her complain, and I think she genuinely enjoyed it, unlike the rest of us, who were always ready to voice our opinions and complaints whenever possible.
In the 1950s, Rene became interested in boys – or rather, one boy: Kenny. He was the only one I heard about, and together they built a happy life that has been well documented by family and friends.
For the next 30 or 40 years, we were all busy with work and raising families. Then, during my retirement years, I began traveling out for the annual cousin pheasant hunt in Gettysburg. Rene would prepare the two upstairs bedroom for cousin Eldon and me. Eldon always got the room on the right, while I stayed in the room on the left. I sometimes wondered if Rene was giving me a little political zinger, but I never dwelled on it for long. Perhaps only her children or grandchildren know that answer.
What I do know is that her hospitality, cooking, warmth, and good humor made those hunting trips unforgettable. Those memories – and my memories of Rene- will always remain very special to me.