Erin Link, 37, of Sioux Falls, formerly of Brookings, passed away on June 17, 2023, at the Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls.  A celebration of Erin's life will be held Friday, June 23, 2023, at First Lutheran Church in Brookings at 11:00 A.M.  A time of fellowship will immediately follow the service at the church.  Visitation will be held the evening prior, Thursday, June 22, 2023, from 4:00 until 7:00 P.M. at Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings.

Erin Rae Brubakken was born to Richard and Janet (McNeely) Brubakken on March 9, 1986, at Dakota Midland Hospital in Aberdeen. She joined her brother, Erik, and the family made their home in Webster.

In September of 1987, the Brubakken's moved to Brookings where Erin attended school.  She was active in music, dance, drama, and the Youth Worship Team at First Lutheran Church. She interned with Prairie Repertory Theater every summer, beginning at age 15. After graduating in 2004, she attended SDSU as a communication studies/theater major. Besides working on plays at SDSU, she was a member of the Concert Choir, performing twice as the Jester in the Madrigal Dinner. Erin also participated in Community Theater; first in Brookings and later in Sioux Falls. She loved pageants, both participating in Miss SD Pageants and later serving as a choreographer and serving as Executive Director of the Teen Program in 2012 and 2013.

Graduating from SDSU in 2008, she moved to Sioux Falls, working in business and building her own new home.  On July 4, 2020, she married Caleb Link. Erin and Caleb enjoyed Harry Potter, Lego, playing cards, watching "The Office", kitchen karaoke and their dogs, Roxy, Cricket, and Luna. She loved others with "all her heart and light" as she told her mom at age 4. She will be missed by all she touched.

Erin is survived by her husband, Caleb, of Sioux Falls; her parents, Richard and Janet Brubakken of Brookings; her brother, Erik, of Sioux Falls; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

She was preceded in death by her grandparents, Emil and Frieda (Horst) Brubakken and Francis and Dorothy Frances (Galvin) McNeely.

Words from Erin's husband, Caleb:

"I met Erin while watching a Vikings game. She tapped me on my shoulder, smiled, and asked what my "big kid job" was. I knew right away there was something special about this girl. We became friends, and we eventually started dating. We married on July 4th of 2020. We were inseparable, period. We spent so much time with our dogs, Roxy, Cricket, and Luna. We had a tradition that every night we would have "family meeting," and the dogs would line up, sit down, and find out who was best that day (they all got a treat). The dogs loved to lay with their mama, especially after she lost her ability to walk in March. The things I will miss the most are our continuing humor and true love for each other. I will miss doing puzzles, Lego Harry Potter, and most of all,  our routine of playing cards every night while we watched "The Office" reruns. She would win 9 out of 10, and the ones she was going to lose, I would let her win. I had already won because I had married the most beautiful person inside and out. Erin, I speak directly to you. You saved me. You gave me purpose, and most importantly, I found out what true love is. I will think of you every minute until I see you again. I love you 3000 forever. Your loving husband, Caleb."

Memorial donations may be directed to your local Humane Society in honor of Erin's lifelong love of animals.