Diana Marie Borgum

Diana Marie (Ames) Borgum, 82 of Blue Springs, Missouri formerly of Sioux Falls, South Dakota passed away on Sunday, October 6, 2024, at St. Luke’s Hospice House in Kansas City, MO surrounded by her loving family. 

A Celebration of Life will be held at Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls, SD on Sunday November 3, 2024 at 3pm. Memorials are suggested to Room to Read, Books for Africa, or St Luke’s Hospice House of Kansas City. Memories of Diana and condolences for her family may be left at www.LedfordFamilyFH.com or on our Facebook Page. Arrangements have been entrusted to the Ralph O. Jones Funeral Home, 306 S. 2nd St., Odessa, MO, 64076, 816-633-5524.

Diana was born on June 30, 1942 in her home in Spink County (Redfield), SD to Lester Jay and Helen Marie (Berkelo) Ames. Diana “The Storylady” loved telling the story of how she came into the world on a bet that her father Les had made, betting a year's salary that she would be born in June. She arrived right in the nick of time. She graduated from Mitchell High School in Mitchell, SD. During High School, Diana was very involved in Luther League. Her faith was the cornerstone of her life very early on. In 1960 Diana was united in marriage to Larry DeWayne Borgum whom she met while attending Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD. Diana put her college education on hold to become a devoted stay-at-home mom. Before preschool became a mainstream way of preparing today's youth, Diana held “Silly School” in her home to help her children and the neighborhood kids get prepared for kindergarten. As her children grew, Diana became very active in the Girl Scouts Organization and led each of her daughters’ troops. She was active in the PTA including holding the office of PTA president. Diana used her creative talents and her seamstress expertise to create the original “Augie Doggie” which became the mascot of Augustana College in the 1980s. Diana and Larry were divorced after 20+ years of marriage. Diana later went and received her bachelor’s degree in education from Augustana College. She taught elementary education for 20 plus years in the Sioux Falls school district. While teaching, Diana always seemed to be drawn to the students who needed a little extra encouragement, love and support. She was a continual cheerleader for her students who struggled. Diana was perhaps best known around the midwest as “The Storylady” where she traveled as a professional storyteller visiting numerous schools, libraries, bookmobiles, museums, churches and banquets sharing her passion for literacy and reading. You could always find Diana “The Storylady” with a book in her hand and often time a puppet on her other hand and her autoharp nearby. Her passion to teach and share her experiences left a positive impact on so many who had the privilege to know Diana. Diana’s biggest mission of all in life was to share the Gospel and the love of Jesus. She shared her faith with anyone and everyone. She took the words that Jesus spoke, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me”, to heart and lived a life of service honoring and helping those in need. She was a fierce prayer warrior. Her Bible went with her everywhere. She was a member of First Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls and directed the pre-school worship program for 30 plus years planting the seeds of faith in thousands of young people. She was active in the community theater, played piano and taught piano lessons, and loved to sing. Her grandchildren were her world, and she loved watching their sporting, music and theatre events. In addition to spending time with family and friends, Diana enjoyed making homemade cards for others, scrapbooking, cheering on her Royals, Chiefs, Vikings, and Twins. The legacy Diana leaves behind will last for many many years to come, the knowledge and love she showed her family, friends and students is unwavering. 

Diana is survived by three children, Phillip (Sella) Borgum of Sioux Falls, SD, Sonya Borgum-Meledge-Ade of Blue Springs, MO, and Gretchen Borgum of Sioux Falls, SD; a son-in-law, Victor Meledge-Ade of Raytown, MO; nine grandchildren, Nathaniel Borgum, Jeremiah Borgum, Odilia Meledge-Ade, Elijah Meledge-Ade, Victoria Meledge-Ade, Josiah Meledge-Ade, Isaiah Borgum, Seth Benjamin, and Andrew Barlow; two great-grandchildren, Malia Borgum and Emersyn Borgum; two brothers, Greg Ames and wife Pam Cook-Ames of Milwaukie, Oregon and Roger Ames of Tucson, Arizona; and many nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

In addition to her parents, Diana was preceded in death by her daughter Pamela Borgum, two grandchildren, Jordan Schiager, Jazmine Borgum, and one great-grandchild Keishawn Benjamin.