What We Are All About

The Aberdeen Area Gift of Life transplant support group was formed in 1997 with a charter group of five members and has grown ever since. We would like to thank all who have donated organs to those in need. Our group realizes the hardship of making the decision to donate, and we are here to thank you.Aberdeen Area Gift of Life gives support to its members and support to the community by sharing our experiences with others. To share our Gift of Life we have become a presence in our community. We participate in community service projects, raise awareness for the importance of organ donation, and lend emotional support to those that organ donation has affected. If you would like to get involved, check out our calendar of events or contact any of our officers.

Opening Ceremony

From the July 3, 2012 meeting, the opening ceremony was recorded. See the page in the right column.

Lions Club Presentation

On April 11, 2012, Sonya Putzier and Terri Lewis shared their story of organ donation to the Lions Club of Aberdeen. Sonya received a lung transplant followed years later with a kidney transplant. The medications used in the first transplant caused Sonya's kidneys to be damaged.

Terri is Sonya's daughter and donated a kidney to her mother.
Recent Activities


Every year the Dacotah Prairie Museum features a Christmas Tree Lane, where local organizations can display trees or wreaths decorated with their group’s theme.  The Gift of Life tree is decorated with green lights and green ribbons.   Each ribbon bears the name of a transplant recipient.  There are also gift ornaments, and on these are written the names of donors.  Three lighted gift boxes also are placed beneath the tree beside the name of our group.  Susan and Loren Jerde are the chairpersons for this project.
Volunteers from the Gift of Life help out the Salvation Army twice a year, filling gift bags for area nursing home residents.  On March 10th representatives from our group, along with volunteers from the Red Cross Gray Ladies, assembled over a thousand Easter gift bags and prepared them for delivery.  Sonya Putzier is in charge of this project.
On March 6, 2012, Jeff Richert from LifeSource spoke about the organization, organ donation, and education efforts to teach the public about organ donation.

Jeff Richert
Opening that recognizes the donor, caregiver, and the donation.
Aberdeen Gift of Life group on 3-6-12

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