Eden: Teenager's death ruled a suicide

The death of a 15-year-old Brandon girl on Saturday near Eden has been ruled a suicide, Marshall County Sheriff Dale Elsen said Monday.

She died while duck hunting near a slough with her father and a friend of the father, also both from Brandon. Authorities received a call shortly before 9 a.m. Saturday requesting help because a girl had sustained a gunshot wound to the head.

The state Department of Criminal Investigation assisted Elsen's office and the Marshall County coroner in the investigation, Elsen said.

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Lyndsey Wehrkamp, 15, of Brandon, SD, died Saturday, November 1, 2008 near Britton, South Dakota, the result of a hunting accident.

Lyndsey Dayle Wehrkamp was born May 17, 1993 in Sioux Falls, SD. She grew up in Brandon, SD where she was currently a sophomore at Brandon Valley High School. Lyndsey had a very keen talent for art, and had recently been asked to join the Art Club at school.

She was a very happy person that always had a smile on her face. She was full of kindness and had a bubbly, affectionate personality. Lyndsey was a very caring person that always put the interests of others above her own. When she was around people, she would always leave them with a warm feeling and a smile on their face. Lyndsey also had a deep faith and a very profound love for Jesus. She had stated that she looked forward to being in Heaven.

Grateful for having shared her life are her father, Scott Wehrkamp, of Brandon, SD; her mother, Evangel Wehrkamp, also of Brandon; her siblings, Whitney Wehrkamp, Bryan Wehrkamp, and Kelley Wehrkamp, all of Brandon, SD; her grandparents, Pat Wehrkamp of Sioux Falls, SD, and Russel and Ann Lynn Graham, of Beresford, SD. She is also lovingly survived by many aunts, uncles, and cousins. Lyndsey was preceded in death by her grandfather, Dale Wehrkamp.

Funeral services will begin at 10:00 am Thursday at Celebrate Wesleyan Church, 1000 South Sycamore Avenue in Sioux Falls. The family will be present at the Celebrate Wesleyan Church from 6:00 to 8:00 pm Wednesday, with a prayer service beginning at 7:00 pm. Miller Funeral Home, Main Avenue location is assisting the family with the arrangements.