Jim LeTendre, longtime owner of PowerBrokers, Inc., in Sioux Falls, SD, passed away on July 28, 2021, at Ava’s House in Sioux Falls after a three-year battle with cancer. He was 57 years old.
James Joseph “Jim” LeTendre was born in Lakefield, Minnesota, September 28, 1963, the second son of Joseph and Rosemary (Collins) LeTendre. While in high school, Jim was active in cross country, basketball, and track.
Upon his graduation in 1982 from Slayton High School, Jim moved to Vermillion, South Dakota, where he worked for KVRA Radio as both an advertising salesman and on-air personality, which inspired his love for many genres of music.
Jim’s passion for riding snowmobiles and motorcycles fueled his desire to help others “enjoy the ride,” so he went to work selling. His career included stints at Midwest MotorSports in Yankton, SD, Bob’s Bike Shop in Lemars, IA, Elliott PowerSports in Sioux Falls, SD, and Action Sports in Marshall, MN. Also, during this time, Jim became a well-respected, much enjoyed announcer for dirt track racing at Park Jefferson Speedway in Jefferson, SD, Buena Vista Raceway in Alta, Iowa, and I 90 Speedway in Hartford, SD.
On March 17, 1995, Jim married Theresa; and on February 22, 2002, together they began Jim’s dream of owning his own PowerSports business. Jim’s brainchild was to help people interested in “riding” become owners in a market geared towards all. Power Broker’s, Inc. of Sioux Falls, SD, was born with the simple slogan, “A Better Way to Buy, A Better Way to Sell”. Jim wrote all his own advertising pieces for radio, TV, and his website. Jim’s uncanny ability to remember people’s names, faces, and stories served him well, and the business grew rapidly, moving quickly out of its first two locations to its current custom-built showroom and shop in Sioux Falls. His gift for truly listening to others and his desire to help others enjoy his favorite hobbies made him countless friends and repeat customers during his career. Jim and Theresa sold the business and retired on September 1, 2020, due to Jim’s declining health.
Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Theresa, and daughters, Lindsay (Shane) Weisgram, Centennial, CO and their daughter, Gemma James Weisgram and Amanda (Andrew) DeSousa, Rochester, MN, and their son Bradley Cole DeSousa; his mother, Rosemary LeTendre, Slayton, MN, and four siblings: Mike (Kathy) LeTendre, Slayton, MN, Beth (Terry) Oolman, Orange City, IA, Mary Ellen (John) Moline, Slayton, MN, and Paul (Wendy) LeTendre, Morris, MN. He is also survived by sisters-in-law, Sheryl (Loy) Woelber, Avoca, MN, Marsha (Greg) Bruns, Gilbert, AZ, Beth (Bill) Stallman, Hartford, SD, Ann (Travis) Traphagen, Sioux Falls, SD, Lisa (Mark) Peterson, Aberdeen, SD, Sara (Cody) Andresen, Hartford, SD, Trisha (Justin) Westervelt, Hattiesburg, MS; brothers-in-law, Richard (Jenny) Konechne, Hartford, SD, Dan (Patti) Konechne, Belle Fourche, SD, Jeff (Leah) Konechne, Garretson, SD, Paul (Brooke) Konechne, Rock Rapids, IA, Martin (Christina) Konechne, Madison, SD, Thomas (Kristen) Konechne, Platte, SD, and Wade (Kayla) Konechne, Aurora, SD; father-in-law, David Konechne, Kimball, SD; mother-in-law, Barbara Konechne, Hartford, SD, and many nieces and nephews.
Jim was preceded in death by his father, Joseph LeTendre, his maternal and paternal grandparents, and his brother-in-law, John Konechne.
Due to the impending birth of a grandchild, a delayed Celebration of Life gathering has been scheduled from 5:00-9:00 PM, Wednesday August 25, 2021 at The District, 4521 W. Empire Place 57106 in Sioux Falls.
