Chong Buckhaus, 80, of Sioux Falls passed away Saturday, August 9, 2025, at Sanford Hospital.
A Visitation will be held Thursday, August 21, 2025, from 5-7 PM at Heritage Funeral Home with a Celebration of Life at the Heritage Funeral Home on Friday, August 22, 2025, at 11 AM. Interment will take place at Woodlawn Cemetery following the Celebration of Life.
Chong Sun Chae was born on February 15th, 1945, in Bukgu, South Korea. From an early age she understood the importance of hard work and savvy money management, working to supplement her mother’s income and providing clothing for herself and her younger brother. She met the love of her life while working in a beauty shop in Kimpo, South Korea.
Chong was united in marriage to Marlin Elmer Buckhaus on January 31, 1968, in Seoul, South Korea. Their marriage was blessed with two children, Dan and Linda, and the couple resided in Hankinson and Wahpeton, ND, before settling in Sioux Falls, SD. They shared 57 years of marriage.
When she first arrived in the United States, Chong spoke very little English and was not able to read English. Even so, she found work at a nursing home in Wahpeton and was surprised by the kindness and generosity that she received from others in the community. In her later years, she paid back that kindness by dedicating her time and skills to helping others less fortunate than herself.
She emphasized the importance of education to her children, pushing them to do well in school, and worked hard to further her own knowledge of English as an adult learner through REACH Literacy. The story of Chong’s hard work to improve herself was included in the book Journey to Literacy by Carda and Phillips.
Chong worked various jobs throughout her life, including 18 years at the John Morrell plant in Sioux Falls. After “retiring” from John Morrell, she continued to work. Her favorite retirement job was working in the cafeteria at Prairie Creek Senior Living Facility in Sioux Falls where she enjoyed spending time with the residents.
Chong enjoyed gardening, cooking Korean food to share with family and friends, fishing with her husband, and maintaining a tidy home. She kept beautiful flowers blooming year round in her outdoor gardens or in her sunroom, a favorite place to relax and gather with family in the winter.
Chong is survived by her husband Marlin Buckhaus; her younger brother Chae Il Su of Inchon, South Korea; her two children Dan (Mary) Buckhaus of Montfort, WI and Linda (Brian) Gute of Duluth, MN; two grandchildren Ellie (Levi) Schreurs of Rock Rapids, IA and Sarah Buckhaus of Lancaster, WI; two great grandchildren June and Charlie Schreurs of Rock Rapids, IA; and many nieces and nephews both here and in Korea.
Chong is preceded in death by her parents, three older sisters, and one older brother.
Visitation
Thursday, August 21, 2025
5:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Celebration of Life
Friday, August 22, 2025
11:00 am
Heritage Funeral Home
4800 S Minnesota Avenue
Sioux Falls, SD 57108
Online Guestbook: https://www.heritagesfsd.com/obituary/chong-buckhaus
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