Deb Souvignier

Deb Souvignier, 63, of Harrisburg SD,  passed away on December 14, 2021.

Deb Souvignier was born April 1st, 1958 to Darwyn and Bonnie Atkins in Tea, SD. She graduated from Lennox High School in 1976. She attended college in Esterville, Iowa. She married Jim Souvignier on May 19,1979. They started their family in 1980 in North Sioux City, Nebraska, eventually moving to Canton, South Dakota until they settled into their home in Harrisburg, SD in 1992. She dedicated the next 30 years to raising her family, advancing her career, and sharing her faith in the catholic religion.

Deb was very involved in her children's activities and schooling. Chaperoning events and being a strong role model to the students she met along the way was natural for her. She loved going to her children's, nieces and nephews sporting events and music concerts. She was the number one fan for many. Deb was often like a second mother to her children's friends and loved them like family.  A big passion she took on was hosting foreign exchange students.  Jim and her hosted Lucas from Germany, Kevin from Switzerland, Tomas from Slovakia, Gabriele from Italy, and Jakub from Slovakia.  Experiencing the world by meeting people from other cultures was always important to her.

She valued her faith. She loved being involved in the CCD program where she could share her faith with many. She served many chicken dinners with pride and later started teaching CCD classes where she valued the opportunity to share her faith with students. She later started Eucharist ministering and lecturing. She became a member of the Catholic Daughters and really enjoyed her responsibilities as well as the wonderful friendships she built along the way.

Travel was a great passion for Deb. Some of her favorite trips included: a cruise in Alaska with her family, for her parent's 50th wedding anniversary; a trip to Jamaica with Jim and her friends Sandra and James; a brewery and National Park Road trip her and Jim took to Colorado, Utah, Oregon, and Upper California; and a cruise to the Bahamas with her sisters. Special weekend trips to Minneapolis to visit her son, visit new breweries, and see her Vikings play were some of her favorites.

In 2012, Deb became a grandma, and thoroughly enjoyed her roll. Teaching Mazon about football and the intricacies of being a Vikings fan were important to her.  Mazon was Deb’s chef in training and she enjoyed their time in the kitchen teaching to cook.  Every vacation together, they made sure to wake up early and use the swimming pool immediately to maximize their enjoyment of it. Deb and Mazon were both morning people and loved to watch Mickey Mouse before everyone else woke up.

            Deb is extremely missed by her family, friends, and many people whose lives she touched.  She was impactful in all their lives.  We are mourning her death and celebrating her life with a visitation from 5-7pm at Heritage Funeral Home and prayer service 7pm on Monday, December 20.  Her Memorial Mass is at 1pm Tuesday, December 21 at St. Nicholas Catholic Church in Tea, SD.

Deb is survived by her mother Bonnie Atkins; her brothers Bret Atkins and Brad (Lori) Atkins; her sisters Kellye (Brian) Stroman and Tami Veahman; her husband Jim Souvignier and their children Zach, Ben, and Anna; her grandson Mazon; and a host of cousins and nieces and nephews.  Deb is proceeded in death by her mother and father-in-law Bert and Dolores Souvignier; her father Darwyn Atkins; her brother-in-law Bill Veahman; and her grandson Sully Helm.