Heartland Funeral Home and Cremation Services

04/13/2026

Grief on the Screen: My Girl 🎬

The beloved film My Girl offers a tender and unforgettable look at grief through the eyes of a child. Centered on young Vada, the story explores what it means to experience loss before fully understanding life, death, and everything in between.

What makes this film so impactful is its honesty. Vada’s grief is raw, confusing, and deeply personal—just as it often is for children. She asks questions, searches for answers, and struggles to make sense of emotions that feel too big for her age. It’s a powerful reminder that children grieve too, and their feelings deserve to be acknowledged, heard, and supported.

The film also shows how grief doesn’t follow a straight path. There are moments of denial, anger, sadness, and even humor woven throughout—reflecting the complex and unpredictable nature of loss.

My Girl encourages important conversations about how we support children through grief. Sometimes, it’s not about having the “right” words, but simply being present, patient, and willing to listen.

As we reflect on this film, we’re reminded that grief looks different for everyone—especially for young hearts experiencing it for the first time. 💛

04/12/2026

April Grief Book Recommendation

This month's grief book recommendation is a book written for teenagers. It is titled 'It Won't Ever Be the Same' by Korie Leigh, Ph.D.

Whether teens are in the midst of their first grief experience or have experienced grief before, It Won't Ever Be the Same is designed to support them. Reflections, analogies, and suggested activities within the pages guide teens in working through and making sense of their personal and complex grief experiences, and words and artwork from other grieving teens help them feel less alone and more connected.

It Won't Ever Be the Same is a validating and reassuring book that speaks directly to teens experiencing grief, providing them with tools to understand, express, and cope. Written by grief counselor Dr. Korie Leigh, the book touches upon big milestones in the grief journey, starting with new grief and continuing through the days, weeks, months, and years after. Each chapter ends with a Give It a Try activity idea to help teens build an understanding of what they're going through. Other moments throughout invite teens to reflect on a specific question or experience, tune in to what they're feeling, or try out a new way of viewing or being in their grief. ~Amazon.com

04/11/2026

Today is National Pet Day! At Heartland, our comfort dog, Kimber, is not only a pet, she is a tremendous asset to our funeral home. Today we celebrate Kimber and the gentle care and comfort she brings to those who are grieving.

Kimber has a special way of bringing peace, warmth, and comfort to families during some of life’s hardest moments. Whether it’s a gentle nuzzle, a wagging tail, or simply sitting quietly by your side, she reminds us that love and compassion often come in the softest forms.

Thank you Kimber for the comfort you give, and the love you show every single day! 🐾🩷

04/10/2026

In Loving Memory Of:
Wilma Harriett Haugen
May 14, 1938 ~ April 9, 2026

Wilma H. Haugen, age 87, Brandon, SD, died on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Good Samaritan Luther Manor, in Sioux Falls, SD.

May 14, 1938 ~ April 9, 2026 Wilma H. Haugen, age 87, Brandon, SD, died on Thursday, April 9, 2026, at Good Samaritan Luther Manor, in Sioux Falls, SD. Wilma wished for no services. She has donated her body to the USD School of Medicine, Vermillion, SD, to further teach the medical field. W

04/09/2026

✨Supporting Someone Through Grief – Part 5✨

Over the last few months we shared some things people regretted saying or doing when trying to support someone who was grieving. They learned once they went through their own grief, that what they said or did didn’t help. These came from an Instagram poll from What’s Your Grief.

Here are a few more that were shared. And as always, the goal isn’t to point fingers—we all do the best we can in difficult moments—but to help us reflect and learn.

By understanding what not to say or do, we can better focus on what truly matters: showing up with compassion, listening, and offering support in meaningful ways.

26. Always trying to turn the conversation to a promise of happier time to come.
27. On several occasions I encouraged friends to stay busy, which I now see was just me telling them to avoid their grief.
28. Being afraid to ask them questions about the person who died, like their favorite memory.
29. I talked more than I listened.
30. Now that I have had a miscarriage and (or) struggled with infertility, I regret asking people without children questions about why they hadn’t had children yet. It wasn’t my business and you never know what people are going through.

By reflecting on these regrets, we can learn to offer more meaningful support and remind those who are grieving that they are not alone.

Information obtained from: https://whatsyourgrief.com/64-grief-support-regrets/

04/08/2026

One of the hidden fears in grief isn’t always the pain, it’s the fading.

Not the sharp waves of missing them, or the ache of their absence, but the quiet, creeping worry that arrives unexpectedly.

“What if I forget?”

The sound of their voice, the way they laughed, the expressions, the habits, the tiny details that once felt unforgettable.

Here’s the thing…grief has a strange way of tying memory to suffering.
It’s as if the intensity of the pain somehow preserves the connection.

Many grieving people carry a deeply private fear, one they rarely say out loud, that if the pain softens, then maybe the person I love will disappear too.

It can feel as though holding tightly to grief is the same as holding tightly to the person you love, as though easing the sorrow risks erasing that love. But this is actually one of grief’s most convincing illusions, because love doesn’t live in suffering, and memory isn’t measured by how much you hurt.

Forgetting isn’t what healing does, and it’s not a betrayal waiting to happen, because human memory was never designed to hold every detail with perfect clarity. Voices blur. Moments soften. And images shift around the edges.

This is just how the mind protects itself while the heart continues to remember in its own way.

Because the deepest connections aren’t stored like recordings in the brain. They live in something far less fragile. In who you became because of them. In the ways they shaped your life. In the invisible imprint of loving and being loved.

No amount of healing can erase that…and no passing of time can undo that.
You don’t honor someone by keeping your pain frozen in place, and you don’t preserve love by refusing moments of peace.

They’re not remembered only when you’re hurting. They’re remembered every time their influence still moves through your life.

And that kind of memory…doesn’t fade.

Gary Sturgis - Author: ‘SURVIVING GRIEF – 365 Days A Year’
Credit: Surviving Grief

04/07/2026

In Loving Memory of:

Dennis Paul Swanson
September 14, 1952 ~ April 4, 2026

Dennis P. Swanson, 73, Lennox, SD, formerly of South Haven, MN, died Saturday, April 4, 2026, at his home due to health reasons.

September 14, 1952 ~ April 4, 2026 Dennis P. Swanson, 73, Lennox, SD, formerly of South Haven, MN, died Saturday, April 4, 2026, at his home due to health reasons. A Graveside Committal Service is planned for 11am, Saturday, April 11, 2026, at the Calvary Cemetery in Mankato, MN. Cards may be

04/07/2026

Tuesdays with Todd!

Today's Question:
Why do certain dates or seasons make grief feel stronger?

Todd’s Answer:
Anniversaries, holidays, and even seasonal changes can bring back memories in a powerful way. These moments remind us of what we’ve lost, but also of what we shared. It’s natural for grief to feel heavier during these times—give yourself grace and take things one day at a time.

04/05/2026

Have a blessed Easter from your Heartland Funeral Home family.

04/04/2026

04/03/2026

Grief in Music

This month’s Grief in Music song is “I Drive Your Truck” by Lee Brice.

This song showcases the grief that a man feels after he loses his brother who was killed while serving in the Army. In the song, the man drives this truck when he is feeling grief from the loss. He says this is his way of coping with the pain. The lyrics also talk about the items that are left in the truck and how the radio station is still tuned into the same station his brother listened to.

Watch the video here:
https://youtu.be/yCSMCgqlc-0?si=tvoZrsjlwH5Wbz9p

Official video for Lee Brice's song "I Drive Your Truck" from his album Hard 2 Love.Click here to stream/download my new album 'Hey World': https://leebrice....

04/01/2026

Just like the weather, grief can be unpredictable and ever-changing.

April often brings shifting skies—sunshine one moment, clouds the next. Grief can feel the same way, with its ups and downs arriving when we least expect them. As spring approaches and the world begins to bloom, it can sometimes feel as though life is moving forward without your loved one.

But remember—you are not moving on, you are moving forward. Grief doesn’t end; it evolves. While you may never fully “get over” a loss, you will learn to carry it in a new way. Healing comes in time, and like the changing seasons, there will be both brighter days and more difficult ones.

As we do each month, we pause to remember those we have lost. We speak their names, share their stories, and honor the lives they lived—lives that were deeply meaningful and very much loved.