This legislative commemoration honors the life and service of former Representative Dr. Donald Dean Van Etten, who passed away on September 23, 2024, at the age of ninety. Dr. Van Etten was born on March 10, 1934, in Orange City, Iowa, and pursued a career in medicine, completing his education at the University of Iowa School of Medicine and his surgical training at Butterworth Hospital in Michigan. He married Verla Jean Vanderbush in 1957, and together they engaged in missionary work in the Middle East before returning to the U.S. to practice surgery in Iowa and South Dakota. He served in the South Dakota House of Representatives from 2001 to 2008, where he was the chair of the House Health and Human Services Committee and a member of the House Taxation Committee.

The commemoration expresses the Legislature's condolences to Dr. Van Etten's family, recognizing his significant contributions to the state through both his medical practice and legislative service. The resolution reflects the appreciation for his dedication to the people of South Dakota and acknowledges the impact he made throughout his life.