Close friends remember T. Denny Sanford for inspiring giving, sense of fun

T. Denny Sanford began what would become the last year of his life ringing in 2026 looking like anything but a man who had just celebrated his 90th birthday.

He and close friend Garry Jacobson spent Dec. 31 in Las Vegas, went to six shows while they were there and “we stayed out New Year’s Eve dinner until 2 a.m.,” said Jacobson, whose friendship with Sanford spans more than 40 years.

“We had a lot of fun. He was a business man’s business man and a fun friend. He could do both. I’m going to miss him.”

Sanford died July 18 at age 90.

Jacobson’s decades-long friendship began shortly after Sanford moved to Sioux Falls in the late 1980s, as he saw the banker sitting by himself at Minnehaha Country Club.

“And I hated to see people by themselves. I’ve met some good friends over the years when I just go sit down and start talking to them,” Jacobson said.

That led to an invitation to Wednesday night men’s dinners at the country club, which Sanford described as among his favorite things to do, he said.

“He would fly back from California early or leave late so he could go to dinner Wednesday night,” Jacobson said. “He just cherished all the guys there.”

Those who knew Sanford best described him as down-to-earth, approachable and modest in his lifestyle given the degree of his success.

“The first week we were here, I didn’t want to go up there,” said Kim Burma, whose family moved in next door to Sanford nearly nine years ago. “And then he walked down and knocked on the door and he goes, ‘Hi, I’m Denny, I’m your neighbor.’”

What transpired from there was a friendship remarkable in its normalcy. The neighbors would meet for a glass of wine or movie night — the last one was Bohemian Rhapsody, “and we sang ‘We are the Champions’ together,’” Burma said.

They had dessert this past Easter together and knew one another’s families. Sanford loved going for sandwiches from Whiffer’s, which closed several years ago, or would ask to meet for dinner at Olive Garden.

“The car he drives is the same one when we met him. He hasn’t changed vehicles,” Burma said. “He’d rather put money toward a person or an organization or the city. He could have bought a professional football team. And instead he gave it back. And he never talked about what he did. I didn’t ever see him brag.”

His estimated $4 billion in lifetime giving also inspired philanthropy in his friends.

“The best thing he taught me is to be generous,” said Jacobson, the namesake and lead donor behind Jacobson Plaza in downtown Sioux Falls.

“So that’s what I’ve been trying to do is become a much more generous, philanthropic person in honor of him. What a phenomenal example.”

Sanford’s giving will live on. Dave Knudson, his personal attorney for more than 30 years, met with him in the last 10 days to update business investments and various gift payments.

In talking with nonprofit leaders, “his initial reaction was always, ‘What can I do to help?’” he said. “He realized he had been exceptionally blessed in terms of wealth and that he wanted to — as he always said — have a life of significance or a plan of significance in his giving.”

Sanford Health will be the primary beneficiary of Denny Sanford’s estate, Knudson confirmed.

“He looked at Sanford Health as the primary legacy,” he said. “In terms of the institution and everything it supported, it had grown so much as a result of his giving … and he was proud of that.”

Sanford was nearly the sole owner of United National, the holding corporation of First PREMIER Bank and PREMIER Bankcard. His estate will continue to receive income from that organization and likely will exist as an estate for five to eight years as it fulfills existing philanthropic commitments, Knudson said.

Once those commitments are met — including $300 million to Sanford Health to support construction of a new hospital to serve the Black Hills — the proceeds from United National’s ongoing operations, subject to regulatory approvals, will be directed to a foundation in Denny Sanford’s name dedicated to ongoing giving for the benefit of the community.

How rare is that?

“I assume highly, but I don’t know,” Knudson said, smiling.

Sanford leaves behind “a great team, and it will keep going,” Burma said. “He surrounded himself with great people, he’s a great person and the relationships he’s had with nonprofits and Sanford Health are just awesome. He called this home and gave it back.”

Years ago, friends gave Sanford the nickname WOLT: World’s Oldest Living Teenager. It essentially stuck to the end, as Jacobson saw last Thursday at Sanford USD Medical Center, when his friend created one more memorable moment.

Pointing to a lift above his hospital bed, Sanford called it “a helicopter” and challenged Jacobson to try it out.

“I’ve got a bad arm and bad neck, but OK,” he said.

He attempted some chin-ups and wiggled his legs around, as his friend laughed.

“I thought, ‘Oh boy, I’m going to pay for this,’” Jacobson said. “But it was worth it.”

Business founder, philanthropist T. Denny Sanford dies

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