Jean Waltz, age 87, of Brookings, died Friday, January 20, 2012, at the United Retirement Center in Brookings. Memorial services will be 10:30 A.M. Thursday, January 26, 2012, at First Lutheran Church in Brookings. Visitations will be from 5:00 to 6:30 P.M. Wednesday at Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings. Interment of cremated remains will be at Greenwood Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to McCrory Gardens at SDSU. Jean Aarness Waltz was born March 13, 1924, at Flandreau, South Dakota, to John and Josie (Dahl) Aarness. She lived in Flandreau until 1940, when her family moved to Mankato, Minnesota. She graduated from Mankato High School in 1942, and she attended South Dakota State University for two years. She worked as a dental assistant in Denver, Colorado, for three years. On August 10, 1948, Jean married Eugene R. Waltz. The couple made their home in Brookings and operated Waltz Hardware for 38 years. Gene died October 29, 2007. Jean was a member of First Lutheran Church in Brookings and was active in First Lutheran Church Women. She was a member of extension club and was a delegate to the national extension meeting. Her special interests included biking and reading. Her main enjoyment was raising flowersshe delighted in sharing them with others in the community. Survivors include two children: Randy (Karen) Waltz of Brookings and Sherry (Kevin) Ishol of Brookings; and a granddaughter, Katie Ishol. She was preceded in death by her husband and two sisters, Joan Lewis and Dora Swanson.