Sylvia Ruth Henkin

Sioux Falls - The remarkable life of Sylvia Ruth Henkin, May 8, 1921 - April 30, 2018.

Sylvia Ruth Wolff, the third child of Sarah and Rabbi Theodore Wolff, was born in Sheldon, Iowa on May 8, 1921.

Theodore immigrated from Russia to serve a calling in Mankato, Minnesota. After Theodore established himself and enough money was saved, Sarah arrived two years later. Theodore and Sarah left Mankato to locate in Sheldon, Iowa where he and his brother and cousins opened and operated Wolff Brothers, mercantile dry goods stores located in Iowa and Minnesota.

Theodore died when Sylvia was five months old so her brothers, Louis age 15 and Paul age 13, helped raise Sylvia along with their mother.

Sylvia left for college when she was sixteen and graduated from Drake University in 1941. After college, Sylvia returned to Sheldon where she earned her private pilot license and began transporting merchandise between the Minnesota and Iowa Wolff Stores.

In 1943, Sylvia's brothers asked her to travel to Sioux Falls and visit KSOO Radio. They wanted to make sure their advertising dollars were well spent and positioned. The owner, Joseph Henkin, came out of his office to greet Sylvia and then asked her to stay a bit while he tried to find his son Morton. Morton, who worked at KSOO Radio, was also a non-practicing attorney and trumpet player. Sylvia loved music. They met and later married in Chicago in 1945. Sylvia and Morton had three children, Susan, Joseph II and Elizabeth Ann.

Sylvia and Mort were pioneers in the development of the communications industry. They operated KSOO Radio, adding KSOO FM and launching KSOO TV in 1960 (now KSFY). For years, Sylvia hosted 'Party Line' a daily live interview program featuring local, regional and national people and organizations of interest. Both Sylvia and Mort were involved with community activities to maintain and improve the quality of life that Sioux Falls so enjoyed. When Morton died in 1974, Sylvia became President of KSOO Radio Inc.

After Morton's death, Sylvia became more deeply immersed in community service, helping to shape the evolution and development of Sioux Falls. She was the community cheerleader. She served on innumerable local and national boards of directors, committees, and capital campaigns throughout the rest of her life.

Sylvia's first and lasting efforts were to help people with developmental disabilities and their families. Elizabeth Ann Henkin was born in 1956 with developmental disabilities, and she became Sylvia's passion. Sylvia believed people with disabilities should have the same rights as anyone else. Today Liz lives in Vermillion, South Dakota and is lovingly supported by professionals, real heroes.

Another passion for Sylvia was music. She loved all kinds of music from grade school band concerts to the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra. She always encouraged young musicians and chorus members, and when they invited her to their performances, Sylvia was the first to clap.

In 1984, Sylvia made a trip to New York where the city was celebrating St. Patrick's Day. She thought 'why can't everyone in Sioux Falls be Irish for one day'? She and other community members started the St. Patrick's Day Parade, and the Khartum Pipes and Drums from Winnipeg, Canada have lead the parade every year.

Sylvia's great joy was her family:

Daughter Susan & Gene McGowan, son Joseph II & Ann Henkin, and daughter Elizabeth Ann Henkin; grandchildren Teresa (Larry) Thornton, Eugene (Cheryl) McGowan, Michael (Richard Le May) McGowan, Jordan (Kate) McGowan, Patrick (Bobbi) McGowan, Joseph Henkin III, Helen Henkin (Jeff) Kluck, and Dr. Katherine Henkin (Dr. Noah) Porter; great grandchildren Dr. Allison Krile Thornton, Susan (Kirk) Rasmussen, Annie (Steven) Loya, JP Thornton, Booth McGowan, Teddy McGowan, Franky McGowan, Chaska (Arata Kaku) McGowan, Aria McGowan, Na'ama McGowan, and Eli McGowan, Ella Porter, Noah William Porter, and Pippa Kluck; and great great grandchildren Quintin Rasmussen and Jude Loya.

A celebration of Sylvia's life will be held at the Washington Pavilion on Monday, May 14, 2018 at 4:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to Lifescape, the South Dakota Symphony Orchestra, or a charity of your choice.

www.millerfh.com

To plant trees in memory, please visit the Sympathy Store.

Published by Argus Leader from May 4 to May 9, 2018.

Memories and Condolences
for Sylvia Henkin

Sponsored by Miller Funeral Home - Downtown.

10 Entries

Bob Helgeson

June 9, 2018

After eight years at KSOO radio, I realized what an important role Sylvia played in the corporate operation of the station. A saavy businesswoman of great integrity. Her personal kindness was especially felt as she helped select the honeymoon hotel for Jeanne and I in Chicago on 2-14-1953. When we arrived at our hotel we were delighted to find an assortment of goodies to welcome us courtesy of Sylvia (and I won't forget Mort's recommendation to visit the Brooks Brothers store for fancy bow ties).

I last saw her at the KSOO reunion that she hosted. A wonderful human being who will be missed.

Dana Wigg

May 14, 2018

I was captured by her vibrancy and passion for life the moment I met her. I'm honored to have known and worked with her. God bless Sylvia Henkin.

Steve Clark

May 10, 2018

Sylvia was a classy, compassionate, progressive people I have ever know , and with a great sense of humor. A leader for Sioux Falls and so glad I got to know her through the broadcasting business. My mother Mary so enjoyed being around her and can never repay her for the great eulogy she delivered when my father Al died in 1984... she made it a celebration of life. She will be watching as we celebrate her well lived life on May 14th.

Tim Wolff

May 9, 2018

Condolences to the family. She was great!

Tim Wolff (cousin, grandson of Meyer Wolff)

Renee Loftesness Lutz

May 9, 2018

Always, always a beautiful, congenial, giving lady. A class act~~our family always thought highly of her. Her legacy will live on!

Denny Oviatt

May 9, 2018

The world lost a beautiful, talented lady. I had the pleasure of working with her and her family for over 13 years at KSOO Radio & Television. After I left for another radio station, she and I remained great friends. The last time I saw her was 2 years ago when I was at Inn at Westport enjoying lunch with her and recalling 'the good old days'. As I left, as usual, she ruffled my hair and said "Curly, let's have lunch more often". I'm so sad that will never happen again. Rest in eternal peace, my friend.
Denny Oviatt, Scottsdale AZ

Bill Loftesness

May 5, 2018

My father was a radio and TV broadcaster for 55 years in Sioux Falls, most of those years working at KSOO for the Henkin family. He was Sylvia's co-host on the afternoon "Party Line" program when I was a child in the '60s.

After I spoke at Dad's funeral in August of 1991, Sylvia followed me, delivering a very beautiful eulogy.

After that (as I haven't lived in Sioux Falls for over 34 years) I think I only had occasion to see her once or twice... Until Christmas time of 2015. I was on my way to visit my Aunt Hilma at the Inn at Westport when I bumped into Sylvia on the elevator. When I introduced myself she immediately knew who I was (despite being a resident of the "memory care unit" there). I got off on her floor to chat for just a minute, but she insisted that I join her in her apartment so we could reminisce about Dad, the "glory days" of radio and TV, and so much else about our home town stretching back to long before my very existence. It was such a fun conversation.

Fast forward one year... I was back in town for Christmas as usual, and after once again visiting my Aunt I decided to stop on the 2nd floor and inquire whether Sylvia might be "up" for an unannounced visitor. The nursing staff went to check. I was told she would be delighted but was in her dressing gown and needed to "make herself presentable."

Of course there was no way Sylvia would receive a visitor without being fully dressed, makeup and all. I had to wait 15 or 20 minutes, and by that time I was feeling awful about disrupting her solitude without any prior notice.

But she was her usual unbelievably gracious self as always, and genuinely seemed to be grateful for the company. We talked about the pictures and other memorabilia in the apartment. She told me about how she met and married Mort, and so much more about the growth of the "little" town I grew up in. It was obvious that she was proud of the part she had played in that. I think we ended up spending an hour or a little more. It was SO much fun, and as I said my goodbye she jokingly said she'd kill me if I didn't come see her when I was next in town.

That, unfortunately, was to be the last time I saw Sylvia.

God Bless you, Sylvia!

Bill Loftesness

Douglas Baack

May 4, 2018

My sincere sympathy to Sylvia's family & friends.
She was an awesome lady admired by all who knew
her. I was fortunate to have known her when I worked for Job Service in Sioux Falls for 14 years,
Also with the SD Symphony & Chamber of Commerce. She was the Ambassador of Sioux Falls
who contributed so much knowledge & wisdom to
make Sioux Falls the great city that it is now. She
was a great leader that was so respected by so many. God made a great LADY! May God Bless
her family & friends.

May 4, 2018

Joe & Sue, you and your families are in my thoughts & prayers. I remember your mom being a very kind woman indeed. She will be missed. Rhonda Hovaldt

David Dill

May 4, 2018

Some 20 years ago I had the privilege to be seated by Sylvia at an event. I knew who she was but she did not know me.....before the evening event was over I realized what a benefit she was for me to have personally met her....rest in peace dear lady....my sincere condolences to her family.

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