80 Countries, One Home: Honoring Lowell Genzlinger in Burke
June 12, 2026 // Community Savings Account, Donors
Lowell Genzlinger grew up on a farm outside Burke, South Dakota. He graduated from Burke High School in 1962 and went on to earn his degree from South Dakota State University in 1966. From there, a 38-year career as a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration officer took him to 80 countries and territories, and he became a resident of Seattle, Chad, Ethiopia, Mauritius, the Seychelles, Washington, D.C., Miami and finally Boulder, Colorado.
But no matter how far the world took him, Burke was always home.
Lowell held onto the family property and returned as often as he could, never missing the annual Burke Dog Days celebration. It was there, on those South Dakota roads and pastures, that he passed his love for the community on to his daughter, Stacey.
"I've never lived in Burke," Stacey says, "but I'm so glad that Burke has always been a part of my life.”
Stacey grew up in Miami and has called Olympia, Washington home for the past 30 years. She and her father made a tradition of coordinating visits to the family property, riding quads down dirt roads, past the stock dam that had served as Lowell's childhood swimming hole. It was there they traded stories and made memories in the place that meant so much to him.
When Lowell passed away in 2024, he gifted Stacey the family home and property. Leaning on a network of friends, family and contacts in Burke and Gregory, she began navigating the transition and building new memories of her own.
When it came time for Stacey to think about her own estate planning, the decision came easily.
"I am grateful to honor dad's legacy by supporting Burke, a truly special community that he loved so much, and one that has also captured my heart."
Stacey has included the South Dakota Community Foundation in her estate plans, with her planned gift directed to the Burke Community Foundation. Burke is one of 90 communities across South Dakota supported through SDCF's community savings accounts—endowment funds that provide lasting, local impact for generations to come.
We are honored to be part of how Lowell's legacy will carry forward and deeply grateful to Stacey for her commitment.
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Interested in supporting a community you love through your estate plans?
Contact South Dakota Community Foundation to learn more about legacy giving or go to: SDCFGift.org