James Jackson Hendricks

James Jackson Hendricks, age 83 of Yankton, SD passed away at Avera Majestic Bluffs Sister James Care Center Hospice House, on Wednesday, October 15, 2025 in the arms of his wife Dawn, after a six-year battle with Parkinson’s disease. Visitation will be Friday, October 31, 2025 from 10:00-11:00 AM at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home in Yankton. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM, Friday, October 31, 2025 at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home & Crematory, Yankton, SD with Pastor Josh Lamers of River City Assembly of God, officiating. Burial will be in the Mountain Lawn Cemetery, rural Lead, SD at approximately 2:30 PM, (MT) Saturday, November 1, 2025. On line condolences may be sent at: www.okfhc.com. To view a live stream of James’s service, click this link: https://server.attend.live/static/event/jRvpy.

James was born to Verna Jackson and James Owen Hendricks on March 26, 1942, in Saint Paul, MN. He was the youngest of three children. His sisters Betty and Nina called him “Jimmy”.

He grew up in White Bear Lake, MN. He became interested in cars early in life and bought his first car, a 1947 Ford Coupe at the age of 14. This was the beginning of a life-long passion for automobiles.

Jim attended White Bear Lake High school, where he met Karmen Theesfeld. The high school sweethearts married during college, and while attending the University of Minnesota, the couple had a son, Robin. Jim graduated from the University of Minnesota with a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry and then went on to complete a degree in Mortuary Science.

Jim worked as a mortician at Hamlin Funeral Home in Moose Lake, MN for a brief time, but soon realized his true calling was to become a physician. He returned to the University of Minnesota and graduated from Medical School in 1969, followed by a general medicine internship at Saint Paul Ramsey Hospital.

In the summer of 1970, Jim and his family moved to Lead, SD, where he began his medical practice at Homestake Hospital and Clinic. Jim loved the beautiful Black Hills and the outdoors. He and his family enjoyed snow skiing, water skiing, boating, jeeping and hunting.

In 1975, after Karmen was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, the family relocated to Virginia, MN to be closer to family. Jim joined East Range Clinic Ltd, where he practiced general medicine for another 21 years, during which time he delivered hundreds of babies, covered the ER at Virginia Regional Medical Center and co-founded the East Range Clinic Urgent Care Center. Many of his patients still speak of the positive impact he had on their lives and the legacy he left.

Despite his busy medical career, Jim provided daily home care for Karmen as her illness progressed. Jim was 39 when Karmen passed away in 1981. After her death, Jim was a dedicated support for Robin, helping him through college and medical school.

Jim met his second wife and new soulmate, Dawn Kokal, while working at East Range Clinic. Jim retired in 1996, after 26 years of practicing medicine. In May of 1996, Jim and Dawn married at Jim’s Lake Vermilion cabin and along with stepdaughter Amber, moved back to the Black Hills of SD. Jim enjoyed many passions in his retirement, including car collecting, home building, motorcycling, real estate and anything outdoors. He and Dawn fostered 23 children over the years. Together, they spent many wonderful years traveling between Spearfish, SD, Sun City, AZ, and Rainy Lake, MN.

Jim’s greatest joy in life was spending time with family, the many life-long friends he met on life’s journey and his dogs. Jim will always be remembered as being an amazing husband, father and friend.

Jim is preceded in death by his first wife Karmen Hendricks, his parents, James and Verna Hendricks, and his sister Betty Baskwill.

He is survived by his wife, Dawn Hendricks; his son, Robin Hendricks (Andrea); stepson, Travis Kokal (Anna); stepdaughter, Amber Walder (Jon); and grandchildren, Karmen, Cale and Sam Hendricks; Grady, Drew, Gannon and Haddie Walder; Helen and Marcia Kokal.