Commemorating the life of Herman Arthur Symens with visitation at First Presbyterian Church of Sisseton, SD, Wednesday, July 27, 2022 from 3:30 P.M. to 6:30 P.M. Burial will be on Thursday, July 28, 2022 at Weston Township Cemetery, one mile north of Amherst, SD at 2:30 P.M. followed by visitation and fellowship at Zion Reformed Church, Amherst, SD until 6:00 P.M.

Herman Arthur Symens was born on November 27, 1939 in Weston Township, Marshall County, South Dakota to Wilbert Irwin and Inga Carmilla (Severson) Symens.  He attended school at Amherst Consolidated School and graduated from Amherst High School in 1957.  He attended South Dakota State College of Agriculture and received a diploma in 1959.   Herman was united in marriage to Judith Herzog on June 14, 1963 at  Ledyard, Iowa.

He started with Limousin in 1970 when he and his brothers Irwin, Paul and John, began raising this new breed of cattle, Limousin, at Symens Brothers near Amherst, South Dakota. They were leaders in Limousin genetics, exhibiting many grand champion Limousin bulls at shows like the National Western Stock Show, the Black Hills Stock Show, and the South Dakota State Fair.

Herman and his wife, Judy and sons moved from Amherst to Sisseton, South Dakota, in 1993 where they raised cattle at Symens Hills Ranch.  They also owned and operated LIMI-Gene, Inc., a semen distribution company created in 1989 with the vision of providing the Limousin breed with a source of quality genetics.

This great cattleman was not only actively involved raising Limousin cattle, but he also played a major role in the breed.  He served on the North American Limousin Foundation (NALF) Board of Directors from 1978 to 1984, serving as president of the association for two years in 1983-1984.  He was held in high esteem by nearly all the seed stock producers of the Limousin breed.  He was also a founding member and on the Board of Directors of the Heartland Limousin Association for many years.  Herman was also on the South Dakota Limousin Board of Directors, serving as president for several years.  He judged many national junior and open shows in the United States and Canada.

He was a great supporter of all breeders, both young and old.  He traveled across the country as well as internationally, buying and selling cattle as well as exhibiting in many prestigious shows.  Breeders sought out Herman for his opinion and advice on Limousin cattle.  Mark Anderson, NALF Executive Director, said at his "Hall of Fame" induction, "Herman is considered a true friend of Limousin breeders, and he is a committed promoter of the breed.  He has had a love of the breed and the people for over 40 years, and he is passionate about the attributes of Limousin cattle."

Herman has received many honors over the years.  In 2015, he was inducted into the North American Limousin Foundation "Hall of Fame", becoming the fifth Limousin breeder/promoter to achieve that high honor.  At his induction ceremony, several Limousin producers from South Dakota, Minnesota, and North Dakota spoke to his true dedication to agriculture and the Limousin breed.  Dean Summerbell, Executive Secretary of the Heartland Limousin Association, said he thought Herman Symens forgot more about Limousin cattle than most producers will ever know. In 2019 Herman retired due to ill health, and he and Judy moved from the ranch into Sisseton. He was a pioneer in the Limousin breed and a true friend of Limousin breeders, spending four decades breeding, feeding, and promoting the cattle that he loved.     Herman passed away on July 16, 2022 after a long illness.

Herman is survived by his wife of 59 years, Judy; sons Jim (Laura) of Claresholm, Alberta and Joel (Gerlyn) of the Philippines; daughters Julie Symens of Sisseton, and Janelle (Brett) Symens of Aberdeen, South Dakota, and seven grandchildren; Leah (Justin) Hanson, Lexi (James) and Dillon (Annalesha) Bohlander, Colton, Cheyenne, and Colby Symens, and John W. Symens, one great-grandson Jhett Hanson; brothers David Symens, Paul (Faye) Symens, John M. (Shirley) Symens; sisters Aletha Prouty, Karen (Darrel) Jongeling, Doris Armstrong; sisters-in-law Cleo Symens, Betty (John) Kendall, Nancy Herzog; brother-in-law Craig Schmidle, and many other relatives and friends.

Herman was preceded in death by his parents W.I. and Inga (Severson) Symens; brother Irwin  Symens; sister Faye Schmidle; brothers-in-law Laymone  Prouty and Gene  Armstrong; sister-in-law Marjorie Symens; in-laws Harold and Phyllis (Togerson) Herzog; brother and sister-in-law Roy and Barbara Herzog.