Twila Sweeney

Twila Ann Sweeney, 27, of Sioux Falls, passed away Tuesday, January 28 at the Sanford USD Medical Center due to complications related to COVID and related breathing problems. 

Twila was born in Bismark, ND on November 11, 1997. She grew up in Vermillion, graduating from Vermillion High School in 2016. She worked in a variety of jobs over the years in the fast-food service industry, as a cook at a local restaurant, and most recently in the custodial department at the Dakota Dome at the University of South Dakota before moving to Sioux Falls. 

During high school, Twila was very involved in varsity athletics. Twila played center for three years on the Vermillion Tanager’s girls basketball team. She also served as a goalie for the high school girls soccer team and threw the shot put and discus on the Tanager’s Girl’s Track and Field Team. In the spring and summer months, she also played club girls’ soccer, softball, and AAU sanctioned basketball throughout the region. She played saxophone in the high school concert band and participated in many related high school activities. Twila was also a published author, writing several influential book reviews on young adult and adolescent literature with Professor Lisa Hazlett at USD while in high school.

Twila enjoyed spending time with family and friends throughout the area. When Twila was not in school, playing sports, or working, she could often be found at the beach or local pool swimming and enjoying her time with friends. She enjoyed sleep overs with her close friends and binging on different Netflix television shows. Twila enjoyed traveling with her family and spent many summers visiting friends and relatives on the shore in Connecticut, in Washington and Idaho, or in Minnesota. Because Twila was extremely tall, 6’ 4” to be precise, she was readily recognizable around the Vermillion area. Because of her height, one of her favorite adventures was to go shopping in Sioux Falls for shoes and clothing that were fashionable and yet large enough to fit her. Many of her friends, family, and former teammates will recognize the difficulty level she experienced finding shoes and clothes that were fashionable that she could wear.

Twila was a very compassionate and empathic soul. Her presence in the lives of all those she touched will be greatly missed. As many will state, she died too young and will be remembered by all.

She is survived by her parents William (i.e., Bill) and Susan Sweeney of Vermillion, SD, and her sister and brothers, Britney Sweeney of Sioux Falls, and Cordell Sweeney, Joseph Sweeney, and John Sweeney also in Vermillion, SD. Additionally, her sisters, brother, and spouses, Mikal Anne Boughton and Dave Henke of Vermillion, Dawn Marie Boughton and Curt Buchberger of Seattle, WA, David Boughton of Ramsay, MN, and her niece and nephew will miss her dearly. She is preceded in death by Marcella Summers and Houston Lewis of Kennel, SD, along with many other relatives in the region.

A celebration of life service will be held at St. Agnes Catholic Church on Friday, February 7th, 2025, from 5:00 to 8:00 pm.

In lieu of flowers, any donations in remembrance of Twila can be made to the Bishop Dudley Hospitality House in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.