HURON — The Fair City Sertoma Club named Deannie LeRoux Sertoman of the Year, and Mary Helen Wipf as the Sertoma Service to Mankind award winner at Tuesday night’s “Crazy for a Cause,” themed fundraiser, at the Plains.
Sertoman of the Year award recipient, LeRoux, is described as a leader, mentor, matriarch, enthusiast, founder and community advocate. Not only is LeRoux the honoree of the Sertoman of the Year award, she was recently elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the upcoming year.
Her involvement in Sertoma began with her husband’s membership in the men’s Sertoma Club and her early membership with the Huron Evening Women’s Sertoma Club. She was the first elected President of the LaSertoma Club, where she was also a founder, and served for two years as Club President.
Early in Sertoma leadership, LeRoux served as District Governor and International Director, as well as Regional Sertoma Foundation Coordinator.
Le Roux received the Sertoman of the Year award previously, for her many years of service and contributions to the club, plus she received the LaSertoman of the Year award in 1995.
Community involvement for LeRoux includes establishing the first Community and Youth sponsorships, LaSertoma International Scholarship and Memorial Fund, Youth Service Award, Miss Huron Scholarship Pageant, YWCA, Our Home Rediscovery Program, plus more.

She also serves on the Campbell Park Committee, helping organize the Thursdays in the Park festivities and coordinating the Pie-in-the-Park baking contest since its inception.
LeRoux has been an active member of the First Presbyterian Church since 1964, where she served as an Elder, volunteered in many ways including helping with and starring in the children’s musicals, as well as delivering Meals on Wheels.
LeRoux is an original Board Member for the Huron Community Foundation, an original member of the Board of Directors of Friends of the Library, plus Secretary of the Spirit of Dakota Award Society, which will celebrate its 32nd Award event this October.
When asked about LeRoux’s involvement with charitable organizations in the Huron Community, former Mayor Mary Pearson said, “One thing that amazes me about Deannie is that she can walk into any of the local banks and they never say “Hi” or “How are you today?” but cut right to the chase — “Deannie, how much do you want?””
As the Sertoma Service to Mankind award winner, Wipf has served the Huron community through her involvement as director of Plus One Guidance Center, supervisor for the Arts and Education division of the S.D. State Fair, plus is the art show coordinator of the Spirit of Dakota event. Co-comittee member, LeRoux noted “Mary Helen has a presence, and a part of that impression has stayed with me. I strongly believe I am a better person because I know Mary Helen.”
Wipf has also invested in James Valley Christian School Stewardship Dinner Theater for the past 18 years, helping with planning, preparation, practice and more, as well as being an active member of Bethesda Church, serving 20 plus years with the AWANA youth ministry, and obtained her Bachelor of Science in Education degree from Huron University.
Huron’s Opportunity School, a classroom setting for troubled youth, was where Wipf had her first teaching job plus where she was presented with the “First Year Teacher Award.” After 10 years there, Wipf continued teaching in alternative classrooms at the Juvenile Detention Center until its closing, then moved to Our Home, Inc., where she teaches Social Studies and personal finance.
Wipf is known for her random acts of kindness, compassion, enthusiasm, patience, and for being a key member of the Huron community.  

ANGELINA DELLA ROCCO/PLAINSMAN
Mary Helen Wipf and Deannie LeRoux were presented awards at Tuesday evening’s Sertoma Banquet and Fundraiser. From the left, Sertoma board member Margo Anderson presented the Service to Mankind award to Wipf. On the far right, board member Margaret Cordts presented the Sertoman of the Year award to Deannie LeRoux, who was unable to attend and was represented at the event by her daughter, Chris Jongling, second from right.

Next, attendees at Tuesday’s Sertoma fundraiser had dozens of different items on which to bid.