Jessi Benda

Jessi Mae Benda (Edwards) was born on April 26th, 1979, to Danny and Ruth (Steineke) Edwards, and passed away peacefully into the arms of Jesus, at the Avera Dougherty Hospice cottage on February 11th, 2023, after a long battle with congestive heart failure. 

Jessi grew up on an acreage, just south of Rowena, SD. She attended Valley Springs Elementary, in Valley Springs, SD, Brandon Valley High school, in Brandon, SD, and graduated in 1997 from Turning Point in Sioux Falls, SD. 

Jessi was married to Tim Coughlin on December 13th, 1997.  From this union came 3 boys, Timothy, Dylan, and Rylie Coughlin, whom Jessi loved with all her heart and soul, and spoke so proudly and highly of. The couple bought a house in Sioux Falls, not far from her Godmother/ Aunt Dixie and Uncle Kenny Hinrichs, and her cousins, Scott and Troy Hinrichs, in which a close bond and some of her fondest memories were made. Jessi and Tim eventually separated and were later divorced. 

Jessi met and began dating David Benda in 2007, and the couple was married on August 7th, 2018. The couple resided in Sioux Falls, SD, with their beloved dogs and cats. 

Jessi was diagnosed with congestive heart failure in 2020 and underwent heart surgery the same year. After a long battle with the disease, she ultimately succumbed to her illness. 

Jessi enjoyed photography, writing, bird watching, and taking care of any little earthly creature that happened to come her way. She had many wild outdoor pets, such as birds and squirrels, that she would feed and care for on a regular basis, all the way up until the day she was brought home to be with the Lord. 

Jessi will always be remembered for her kind, loving heart, her empathy for the underdog, her great sense of humor, and her ability to bring light into a dark room. 

Jessi is preceded in death by her father, Danny Edwards; uncle, Kenny Hinrichs; cousin, Dustin Joe Steineke; uncle, Merle “Moe” Henry; uncle, Gary Edwards; maternal grandmother, Stella (Ken) White; maternal grandfather, Marvin Steineke; paternal grandmother, Irene (Roy) Beerman; paternal grandfather, Harold Edwards; and niece, Evie Edwards. 

She is survived by her husband, David Benda, Sioux Falls; three sons, Timothy, Dylan, and Riley Coughlin, Sioux Falls, SD; granddaughter, LiliAnne Coughlin, Sioux Falls, SD; mother, Ruth Edwards, Brandon, SD; brother, Luke Edwards, Brandon, SD; brother, Levi (Allison) Edwards, Sioux Falls, SD; nieces, Lacie, Kailee, Mylie, and Oakleigh Edwards, Sioux Falls, SD; and nephews, Mason and Hazon Edwards, Sioux Falls, SD. 

A celebration of life will be held for the family in the spring. 
Cards for the family may be sent to 
Ruth Edwards 
48225 267th street 
Brandon, SD 57005