April Groen

April Groen, 51, of Wilmot, SD, passed away October 11, 2026, at Wilmot Care Center.

Funeral Services will be held on Thursday, October 15, 2026, at 2:00 p.m. at Zion Community Church in Wilmot, SD. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service on Thursday. A luncheon will be held following the service at the Zion Community Church. Pastor K.C. Smith will officiate. Burial will be held on Friday, October 16, 2026, at 1:00 p.m. at Leota Community Cemetery, and Pastor Dorie Hall will officiate. Following the graveside service there will be a celebration of life at The Eagles in Luverne, MN. 

April Marie Groen was born on November 29, 1974, in Luverne, MN, to James and Linda (Krahn) Hanson. She attended Luverne High School, where she played volleyball and excelled in track, earning a medal at the state track meet. Her passion for volleyball continued after high school, and she enjoyed playing recreational volleyball. After graduating in 1993, April attended Nettelton Career College in Sioux Falls, SD, and earned a degree in Travel Management.

April met her future husband, Darren Groen, while working at Fey Industries in Edgerton, MN. They later moved to Sioux Falls, SD, and then to Valley Springs, SD, in 2000. They were married on May 13, 2006, in Sioux Falls. April was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis “MS” in December 2006. April persevered through the challenges of MS while continuing to work for as long as she could. In 2013, as her MS progressed and she made the difficult decision to step away from her career, CCL Label treated April and Darren to a dream vacation to Alaska.

April had always wanted to live near a lake. In 2019, she and Darren built their home on Big Stone Lake near Wilmot, SD. They shared their home with their two dogs, Remi and Dexter, who were April’s greatest companions. In recent years, April and Darren attended Zion Community Church in Wilmot. She enjoyed spending time doing the things she loved. During the winter, she went ice fishing with Darren and their friends. She was an avid race fan and spent summer Sundays at Huset’s Speedway in Brandon, SD. For many years, she and Darren also attended the 410 Sprint Car Knoxville Nationals in Knoxville, IA. April also enjoyed boating, camping, and spending time with friends. As a result of her progressing MS, April moved into the Wilmot Care Center in August 2023.

April is survived by her husband, Darren Groen; father, James Hanson of Adrian, MN; mother, Linda Hanson of Luverne, MN; sister: Amy and Wayne Kruger and their children: Justine (Andrew) Miller, Courtney (Brian) Richters, and Sam Kruger; sister, Angie Hanson; great-nieces and great-nephews: Oaklyn Miller, Ivy Miller, Mayla Miller, Brooks Miller, and Gabriella Richters; father-in-law and mother-in-law: Marlyn and Faith Groen of Leota, MN; sister-in-law, Shari and Brad Wilson and their children: Trevor (Michaela Fischer) Wilson, Sheridan Wilson, and Payton Wilson; her lifelong best friend, Heidi Martius; former stepmother, Deb Hanson; stepsister, Dawn Cope; and stepbrother, Dennis Wilken.

She was preceded in death by her brother in infancy, Troy Hanson.

Memorials can be made in April’s honor to Zion Community Church Building fund or the Benevolent Funds – PO Box 220, Wilmot SD 57279.

Flowers can be ordered from our local florist – The Flower Shoppe: (605) 432-9597