Wanelda Jean Merriam, age 82, of Huron, passed away in her sleep on Friday, November 7, 2025, at the Avantara Nursing Home.

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Visitation with family present was held from 6:00 to 8:00 PM, Tuesday, November 11, at the Kuhler Funeral Home.

Her funeral service was held at 10:00 AM, Wednesday, November 12, at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church. Entombment followed in the Restlawn Memory Gardens Mausoleum. Her service was live-streamed.

Wanelda Jean Merriam was born October 10, 1943, in Lake County (Madison) to Delmar and Adeline Callies. She attended school in Howard from kindergarten through her graduation in 1961 from Howard High School.

She married Allen Merriam on August 11, 1961, and they moved to Huron where she spent the remainder of her life. The couple raised three sons and a daughter.

The Merriams attended Mount Calvary Lutheran Church. Her faith played a major role in her life along with her pride in being a wife, homemaker, mom, grandmother and great grandmother.

Early on in their marriage, Wanelda was a stay at-home mom and continued with those duties until her children had either completed or nearly completed elementary school.

Her work experience out of the home included the Huron Public Schools Lunch Program, Randall's grocery, Raven's, Nordby Center and BankFirst. She also spent countless hours attending her children and grandchildren's athletic and other activities.

Wanelda is survived one daughter, Tricia (Ross) Sundeen of Watford City, ND; three sons, Rodney (Misti) Merriam of Sioux Falls, Roger (Kris) Merriam of Watertown and Troy (Carrie) Merriam of Huron; ten grandchildren; Maddie (Alex) Schnell, Connor Merriam, Brittany (Justin) Schwieger, Quinn Merriam, Mollie Merriam (Jordan), Gerrit Merriam (Betty), Chrystal Merriam, Olivia (Tommy) Dwyer, Addison Sundeen (Casey) and Avery (John William) Suter; nine great grandchildren, Graham, Jax, Blakely, Cortland, Lavin, Rhep, Rossi, Maeve and Elin; and sister, Connie Roth of Mitchell.

She was preceded in death by her husband and her parents.

View Wanelda's Floral Arrangements