Zareefa "Reefa" Hanenberger

Zareefa Yvonne Hanenberger, of Laguna Woods, California, passed away July 5, 2024, at Memorial Care Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, California. Her memorial service will be held at 2:00 pm, Saturday, June 28, 2025, at Quest Church (formerly home of 1st Baptist Church), 512 E. 5th Street, Dell Rapids, South Dakota, with inurnment immediately following in the Dell Rapids Cemetery. Visitation with family present will be held at 1:00 pm at the church prior to the service. A social time with refreshments will be held at the church following the inurnment.

Zareefa (Reefa) was born June 21, 1924, at Dell Rapids, South Dakota, to Henry James Merry and Anna Janette Qualseth Merry. She grew up in Dell Rapids and graduated from Dell Rapids High School in 1942. Reefa attended Cottey College, Nevada, Missouri, the University of Missouri, and the University of Minnesota receiving a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Journalism, and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Education.

While working at KROC Radio Station in Rochester, Minnesota, Reefa met Dwyan (Hanny) Martin Hanenberger while he was working at his brother’s clothing store. Reefa and Hanny were married in Dell Rapids on May 30, 1947. In 1951, they and their two boys, Peter and Ned, moved to Minneapolis where Hanny sold men’s clothing. In 1954 the family moved to Yankton, South Dakota, and Hanny started Hanny’s Men’s Wear. The store later expanded to Vermillion and Mitchell and then to the Yankton Mall and the University of South Dakota Campus.

Reefa’s Dad was a business man and the mayor of Dell Rapids, but her Mom was fondly referred to as “The Mountain Mover”, and that describes Reefa to a “T”. Reefa had a wonderful sense of humor and always looked forward to a stimulating conversation. She made people feel welcomed. She was knowledgeable, wise, articulate, genuine and gracious. Reefa just enjoyed people. When she arrived in Yankton, Reefa immediately began a career of “involvement”. She became very active in her church, The United Church of Christ Congregational. She taught school at Lincoln Elementary. As Hanny’s Men’s Wear took hold and grew, Reefa was an integral part of the business and finances. She served on the Yankton School Board and was a Director of the Associated School Boards of South Dakota. Reefa also served on the Lewis and Clark Mental Health Board for the southeastern portion of South Dakota, and was a member of the Yankton Daily Press & Dakotan Editorial Board. Reefa served as a Trustee on the Yankton Community Library Board for nine years and was State President of the Trustee’s Division for the South Dakota State Library Association. Reefa was appointed by the Governor to the South Dakota Commission on Human Rights and served for a total of twelve years, and was elected chairperson for a time. Reefa and Hanny received a Governor’s Executive Proclamation in appreciation for her service. Reefa was a member of the P.E.O. Sisterhood, Chapter BT, of Yankton for almost 80 years having transferred from Chapter AD, Dell Rapids, and was a proud member of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) for over 78 years.

Upon retirement, Reefa and Hanny spent winters in Laguna Woods, California, and became Reefa’s permanent home shortly before Hanny’s passing on January 2, 2004. Reefa was very active in the Irvine United Congregational Church, and worked for a time at a Hallmark store where she enjoyed assisting customers looking for appropriate cards. In Reefa’s “leisure time”, she and Hanny enjoyed dining out and traveling both by car and plane, putting on lots of miles on cars they bought from Reefa’s brothers’ business. At the time of Reefa’s death, her driver’s license still had years before expiration. Reefa also made several trips to Norway to visit her granddaughter, Mona and family.

Reefa was preceded in death by her husband of 57 years, her son, Peter, who died at the age of 34, her son, Ned, who died at the age of 62, for whom Reefa was the primary care giver in her home, and her two brothers, Howard (Jiggs) and Tom Merry.

Reefa is survived by her granddaughter, Mona Schanche, Mona’s husband Jonas Laberg, great grandchildren, Jakob, Mikkel and Emma Zareefa, Mona’s mother Audhild, many Hanenberger and Merry nieces, nephews and cousins, and many friends.

Reefa was a capable, joyful person throughout her life.

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