Edmunds County Tribune -

Jayna Raigh Sanborn was born on November 18, 2001. Two and a half years later, Kylee Lynn Sanborn was born on May 12, 2004. From the very beginning, they were inseparable and were always lovingly called "The Girls" by everyone who knew them, especially by their parents, Ryan and Sarah Sanborn.

The girls were able to do everything! They could work on the farm doing anything they were asked to do. They loved working with the animals, sorting and working cattle, feeding bottle calves, and training 4-H sheep. While they were in the field, they had learned to seed, cut, rake, and bale hay. In the shop, they helped tear apart equipment, find the right tools, and most importantly, put the tools in the correct spot to be found the next time they were needed. They excelled in every subject in school and were members of the Football Cheer Team. Jayna acted in the All School Play and was inducted into the National Honor Society. Kylee enjoyed long jump and triple jump during the track season and was a member of FBLA. They worked hard in the house cooking, cleaning, and helping take care of their siblings by giving them baths, helping them with their homework, playing with them, or just snuggling and reading to them. During the summer, they thoroughly enjoyed the 4-wheeling and camping trips they took with their family.

The girls were greatly involved in all aspects of 4-H. They worked very hard all summer long on their 4-H sheep and helping their sister and brothers with their bottle/bucket calves. They were involved in several categories of static exhibits including visual arts, home environment, clothing and textiles, and photography. They loved everything about 4-H Shooting Sports and shot BB Gun, Air Pistol, Air Rifle, and most recently found a passion of Trap Shooting. Jayna was named a South Dakota 4-H Ambassador last year and was sorry that the weather did not allow her to be as involved as she would have like to. The girls were involved in South Dakota 4-H Performing Arts. This was the best time of the girls' lives. They looked forward to their week at 4-H PA camp all year, and they could not wait to be with their PA family sporadically through-out the summer and for the State Fair weekend. Jayna was very proud to be named the 4-H PA liaison this year.

Jayna's passion was music. She loved to listen to it. She loved to play it. She loved to sing. She even chose Cecilia, the Patron Saint of Music, to be her Confirmation Saint. Her future plans were to attend Northern State University in Aberdeen to double major in Instrumental Education and Vocal Education and minor in Theater Education. Jayna loved everyone and everything. She enjoyed baking and cooking and shared many of the kitchen responsibilities with her mom. Her three youngest siblings looked to her more as a bonus mom than an older sister because she loved them as much as a mother does. She took the responsibility of being the bonus mom to heart. She would even make sure her mom had everything in line for the three littles' after school plans before school started, so everyone knew what the plan was.

Kylee's passions were very diverse. She wanted, with all of her heart, to travel the world and learn as much about languages and cultures as she could. A new-found love of art was just starting to blossom. Many days she would come home from school and be so excited about the art project she was working on. She loved music and was interested in all kinds, whether it was in English or not. She was very interested in figuring out how things worked or how to put things together. She spent lots of time putting Lego kits or Erector sets together with her siblings. She loved spending hours in the shop with her dad, tinkering with tools and learning how to use the welder. She even welded her own fidget spinner out of a ball bearing and three nuts. Kylee loved to read. It was truly amazing how quickly she could read through a book and get as much information out of it as if she had read it five times.

The most important thing to the girls was their faith. They knew God, and they loved Him. They were very interested in learning anything and everything they could about their faith. They would often be found looking up scripture quotes for inspiration. They felt extremely honored to receive each and every sacrament that they were able to. They truly loved volunteering as CCD teachers for the elementary students and sharing their knowledge of God and faith with them. They had an amazing spiritual foundation and were eager to share it with anyone who would listen.

Jayna and Kylee will forever be in the hearts of many, including their parents, Ryan and Sarah; sister Anyka, brothers Gavin and Rylan Sanborn (Leola); Grandma Joy Kehrwald (Ipswich); Papa Kevin and Kitty Kehrwald (Ipswich); Uncle Justin, Aunt Marcy, and cousins Collin and Isabelle Kehrwald (Harrisburg); Aunt Katie, fiancé Travis Ter Wee, and cousin Trenton Kehrwald (Aberdeen); Aunt Shannon Kehrwald, fiancé Casey Oberle (Sioux Falls); Grandma JoAnn Sanborn (Leola); Aunt Jeralyn, Uncle Kent, and cousins Jared and Morgan Fischer (Bismarck); Aunt Stacey, Uncle Todd, and cousins Lane Roettele and Taylor Schmidt (Aberdeen); Aunt Shanna, Uncle Rob, and cousins Connor and Olivia Jackson (Aberdeen); an enormous extended family, and an overabundance of friends.

They are welcomed into Heaven by their Grandpa Gerald Sanborn, Great-Grandparents and special bonus Grandma Esther Fischer.

Mass of Christian Burial was at 10:30 a.m. on Monday, Dec. 2, 2019 at the Ipswich High School Gymnasium. Fr. Timothy Smith served as Celebrant of the Mass with assisting pastors, Fr. JP Morgan and Fr. Tom Clement along with Deacon Lonnie Grabowska and Deacon Mike Wambach. Interment at Holy Cross Catholic Cemetery followed the service. A time of lunch and fellowship was held at Holy Cross Fr. Bormann Hall following the services.

Memorials may be directed to the Jayna and Kylee Sanborn Memorial Fund at Ipswich State Bank, PO Box 8, Ipswich, SD 57451 or Jayna and Kylee Sanborn Fund at Cortrust Bank, PO Box 140, Leola, SD 57456.

Arrangements by Gramm Funeral Home of Ipswich. Online guest registry at grammfuneralhome.com .