Shut pals keep in mind T. Denny Sanford for uplifting giving, sense of enjoyable

July 18, 2026

T. Denny Sanford started what would develop into the final yr of his life ringing in 2026 trying like something however a person who had simply celebrated his ninetieth birthday.

He and shut pal Garry Jacobson spent Dec. 31 in Las Vegas, went to 6 reveals whereas they have been there and “we stayed out New Year’s Eve dinner until 2 a.m.,” mentioned Jacobson, whose friendship with Sanford spans greater than 40 years.

“We had a lot of fun. He was a business man’s business man and a fun friend. He could do both. I’m going to miss him.”

Sanford died July 18 at age 90.

Jacobson’s decades-long friendship started shortly after Sanford moved to Sioux Falls within the late Nineteen Eighties, as he noticed the banker sitting by himself at Minnehaha Country Club.

“And I hated to see people by themselves. I’ve met some good friends over the years when I just go sit down and start talking to them,” Jacobson mentioned.

That led to an invite to Wednesday evening males’s dinners on the nation membership, which Sanford described as amongst his favourite issues to do, he mentioned.

“He would fly back from California early or leave late so he could go to dinner Wednesday night,” Jacobson mentioned. “He just cherished all the guys there.”

Those who knew Sanford finest described him as down-to-earth, approachable and modest in his way of life given the diploma of his success.

“The first week we were here, I didn’t want to go up there,” mentioned Kim Burma, whose household moved in subsequent door to Sanford practically 9 years in the past. “And then he walked down and knocked on the door and he goes, ‘Hi, I’m Denny, I’m your neighbor.’”

What transpired from there was a friendship outstanding in its normalcy. The neighbors would meet for a glass of wine or film evening — the final one was Bohemian Rhapsody, “and we sang ‘We are the Champions’ together,’” Burma mentioned.

They had dessert this previous Easter collectively and knew each other’s households. Sanford cherished going for sandwiches from Whiffer’s, which closed a number of years in the past, or would ask to satisfy for dinner at Olive Garden.

“The car he drives is the same one when we met him. He hasn’t changed vehicles,” Burma mentioned. “He’d rather put money toward a person or an organization or the city. He could have bought a professional football team. And instead he gave it back. And he never talked about what he did. I didn’t ever see him brag.”

His estimated $4 billion in lifetime giving additionally impressed philanthropy in his pals.

“The best thing he taught me is to be generous,” mentioned Jacobson, the namesake and lead donor behind Jacobson Plaza in downtown Sioux Falls.

“So that’s what I’ve been trying to do is become a much more generous, philanthropic person in honor of him. What a phenomenal example.”

Sanford’s giving will dwell on. Dave Knudson, his private lawyer for greater than 30 years, met with him within the final 10 days to replace enterprise investments and numerous present funds.

In speaking with nonprofit leaders, “his initial reaction was always, ‘What can I do to help?’” he mentioned. “He realized he had been exceptionally blessed in terms of wealth and that he wanted to — as he always said — have a life of significance or a plan of significance in his giving.”

Sanford Health would be the major beneficiary of Denny Sanford’s property, Knudson confirmed.

“He looked at Sanford Health as the primary legacy,” he mentioned. “In terms of the institution and everything it supported, it had grown so much as a result of his giving … and he was proud of that.”

Sanford was practically the only proprietor of United National, the holding company of First PREMIER Bank and PREMIER Bankcard. His property will proceed to obtain earnings from that group and sure will exist as an property for 5 to eight years because it fulfills current philanthropic commitments, Knudson mentioned.

Once these commitments are met — together with $300 million to Sanford Health to help development of a brand new hospital to serve the Black Hills — the proceeds from United National’s ongoing operations, topic to regulatory approvals, will probably be directed to a basis in Denny Sanford’s identify devoted to ongoing giving for the good thing about the neighborhood.

How uncommon is that?

“I assume highly, but I don’t know,” Knudson mentioned, smiling.

Sanford leaves behind “a great team, and it will keep going,” Burma mentioned. “He surrounded himself with great people, he’s a great person and the relationships he’s had with nonprofits and Sanford Health are just awesome. He called this home and gave it back.”

Years in the past, pals gave Sanford the nickname WOLT: World’s Oldest Living Teenager. It basically caught to the top, as Jacobson noticed final Thursday at Sanford USD Medical Center, when his pal created another memorable second.

Pointing to a raise above his hospital mattress, Sanford referred to as it “a helicopter” and challenged Jacobson to attempt it out.

“I’ve got a bad arm and bad neck, but OK,” he mentioned.

He tried some chin-ups and wiggled his legs round, as his pal laughed.

“I thought, ‘Oh boy, I’m going to pay for this,’” Jacobson mentioned. “But it was worth it.”

Business founder, philanthropist T. Denny Sanford dies