Cynthia Jane Newman, 72, of Sioux Falls, SD, passed away February 27th, 2026, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls.

A memorial service will take place at 6:00 PM on Tuesday, March 3rd, 2026, at Miller Funeral Home Downtown (507 S Main Ave) in Sioux Falls, SD, with family being present one hour prior to greet friends.

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Cynthia Jane Newman, born November 25, 1953, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, clicked her ruby slippers for the final time on February 27, 2026, in her hometown - where her journey began and where, fittingly, her yellow brick road came full circle. Born to Ruel Olesen and Lodesta Iverson, Cindy's life was a Technicolor adventure filled with love, laughter, courage, and more heart than the Wizard could ever hand out.

Her path wound through northern and southern California, then Naperville, Illinois, before she returned home to Sioux Falls in 1994. No matter where she lived, she brought her own sunshine—sometimes a tornado of it—leaving every place brighter and every person better for having known her.

Cindy lived an extraordinary, love‑soaked life. She was stunning inside and out, the kind of beautiful that wasn't just seen but felt. She carried many titles—daughter, sister, aunt, mother, grandmother, friend—and she wore each one like a crown. She excelled in two careers she adored: as a paramedic with the Dell Rapids Ambulance Service and as an administrative assistant at Austads' Golf and Evans, Haigh & Arndt LLP. But her most cherished role, the one she poured her whole soul into, was being a mom and a grandma.

Her daughters—Jessica, Ashley, Chelsea, and bonus daughter Mindy—were raised by the best, guided through life's poppy fields and tornadoes with a mother who taught them how to handle the occasional Wicked Witch moment while reminding them, always, that they'd had the power all along.

Her twelve grandchildren—Keller, Avi, Eero, Alyssa, Lucas, Jocelinn, Atticus, Karsen, Augie, Kenden, Statham, and Fatty—were the brightest gems on her yellow brick road. They filled her world with joy, purpose, and laughter. She loved them with a depth and devotion that could rival any magic in Oz.

Her person—her Glinda, her sidekick, her co‑conspirator in all things life—was her sister Sue Kadinger. More than a sister, Sue was her best friend, her confidant, her constant. The two were rarely apart, always laughing, always loving, always under the watchful eye of their older brother Jerry Olesen, who preceded her in death and is surely greeting her now with a smirk and a hug.

Cindy had a zest for adventure: concerts, camping, road trips, and caring for anyone lucky enough to cross her path. She never met a stranger—only future friends. Her animals held a special place in her heart: Blue the horse, Norman the Newfoundland (preceded in death), and Titus, her most recent gentle giant.

She fought cancer with the courage of the Cowardly Lion, the brains of the Scarecrow, and the heart of the Tin Man—plus a sense of humor so relentless it made everyone around her feel braver. Even in the hardest moments, she cracked jokes, lifted spirits, and reminded everyone that laughter is its own kind of magic.

Cindy will be remembered for her enormous heart, her wickedly funny sense of humor, her kindness, her loyalty, and the way she made everyone feel like they mattered. She leaves behind a legacy of love, laughter, and the kind of memories that sparkle like the Emerald City.

So yes—ding dong, the witch is dead.
But not the wicked one.
The wonderful one.
The one we loved.
The one we will miss forever.

Cynthia Jane Newman—Love you. Bye.

She is survived by her sister and lifelong "person," Sue (Dave) Kadinger of Sioux Falls, SD; her daughters Jessica (Aaron) Adams, Ashley (Jordan) Miles, Chelsea Newman, and bonus daughter Mindy (Aaron) Jorgensen; and by her twelve beloved grandchildren—each one a bright spark of her magic.

Preceded in death somewhere over the rainbow: Ruel Olesen, LoDesta (Johnny) Stewart, and Jerry Olesen, and Cindy's horse Blue.