Jeff Bigelow was surrounded by friends and family when a long battle with liver disease, diabetes, and cancer resulting from injury, peacefully ended his journey June 16th, 2026, while on hospice care in his home in Brookings, SD. 

Jeff was born to Marlys and Darrell Bigelow on May 16th, 1961 at the hospital in Parkston, SD, then lived in Estelline and Geddes, SD before spending most of his childhood in Wolsey, SD. He attended kindergarten through twelfth grade while earning his High School Diploma at Wolsey, SD. Jeff’s father Darrell died of cancer when Jeff was 8 years old, his mother Marlys then married Delbert (Shorty) Vasknetz. After two years of marriage to Delbert, Jeff’s mother died of cancer. After Marlys' passing, Delbert raised Jeff along with his brother Jim and twin sisters Jane and Judy. Shorty (Delbert) and Jeff ran a crop spraying and HVAC business in Wolsey, SD until Shorty sold the business in 2001. While residing in Huron for 14 years and Mitchell for 20 years, Jeff was employed in metal fabrication, product assembly, food production, and retail with different manufacturers and businesses. In the fall of 1988 Michele Bigelow became his partner when attending Dakota State University in Madison, SD. August of 1989, Jeff and Michele married then raised 6 children; including Ryan Jackson, Darrell Bigelow, Andrew (Courtney) Bigelow, Thomas (Jenny) Bigelow, Samantha Bigelow, and Emily Bigelow alongside many living grandchildren, nieces, nephews, and cousins. 

Jeff was preceded in death by his father Darrell Bigelow, his mother Marlys Bigelow/Vasknetz, his brother Jim Bigelow, and step father Delbert (Shorty) Vasknetz. Judy(Ken) Harris and Jane (Donald) Kleinsasser are Jeff’s living siblings. 

Jeff’s celebration of life memorial will be July 4th, 1pm to 11pm, at The Sportsman’s Club located on Lake Mitchell, Mitchell, SD. All friends and family are welcome.