Tana Marie (Hanks) Lauseng passed away February 22nd, 2025 at Edgewood-Greenleaf in Flandreau, SD. A Celebration of Life will be held April 12th, 2025 at the Watertown VFW from 11-4pm.

Tana was born July 19th, 1950 to Lloyd Sr. and Rose (Jungen) Hanks, in Watertown, SD. She grew up playing stickball with the neighborhood kids, going fishing with her dad, on the trap line, and being active outside. As Tana got older, she got her first job working in the coffee shop at the Guest House. Then, she chose to spend a summer in Sioux Falls with one of her aunts and Tana found a part time job to help fill her time.

A big part of Tana's life was hunting, fishing and going on the trap line. She would also help out with the family game cleaning business; she would do this every hunting season well into her adult life.  Tana spent many days with family playing pinochle, which could get ugly at times, but after the heat would blow over, they were back with another game.

Tana was set up on a blind date with her "soon to be husband", Dennis Lauseng, by his sisters, Shirley and Linda. Things must have gone pretty well between Dennis and Tana, because after just the one date, a phone call and a letter, they were married shortly after on November 26th of 1969 in Watertown.

After getting married, Dennis and Tana moved to the cities as that was where Dennis was currently living. Briefly, Tana had a job as a "Candy-Striper" now called CNA.

In April 1978, they moved back to Watertown to be closer to family and to raise their growing family. While raising six kids, Tana would spend time by taking them fishing, swimming in one of the lakes and gardening. Music was always playing in the house and Tana would dance with her children when they were younger, as well as her nieces and nephews that would come to be by her.

Tana is survived by her husband Dennis Lauseng, their six children: Shauna (Steve) Roach of Brookings, SD, Dennis Lauseng Jr of Sioux Falls, SD, Eric Lauseng of Sioux Falls, SD, Shane Caballero of Las Cruces, NM, Tanizha (Jason) Berg of Watertown SD, Rose (Luke) Nagel of Brookings, SD, Brothers Kenneth (Kelly) Hanks of Watertown, SD, Kevin (Tonya) Hanks of Watertown, SD, Sister Yolanda (Monte) Kouf of Watertown, SD, and many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She is preceded in death by her parents, Lloyd and Rose Hanks, sisters Carla and Vonnie, brother Lloydie, grandson Seth and several aunts and uncles.