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Todd Egge settles in to talk about his parents.

In his home just east of Sioux Falls, windows overlooking trees and grasses the shades of yellow from pale to golden that make up fall in South Dakota, he is surrounded by family photos as he talks about Jay and Dorothy Egge.

Quickly, the memory of their goodness nearly overwhelms him.

“The thing that goes unnoticed about them is the hours of time they spent volunteering,” Todd Egge says. He looks down at a yellow legal pad covered in handwritten notes and begins to read, naming organizations from church to school board to committees for everything from nursing to 4-H to automotive to racing.

Jay and Dorothy Egge could somehow find extra hours in each day, and they filled them with service to others, their children say.

Consider the Splitrock Township Volunteer Fire Department, where Jay Egge served for nearly 50 years, more than half as fire chief. Todd Egge is incredulous as he talks about his father helping in the aftermath of a fatal tornado – one that was powerful enough that shreds of paper from the home it leveled were found as far away as Luverne, Minnesota.

Watching his parents and their willingness to always help others instilled in him the same values. Just like his father, Todd Egge is a volunteer firefighter. And like his dad and his grandfather, Joe Egge is, too, and also served as fire chief.

“Doing this with my son is very rewarding,” Todd Egge says, calling the family volunteerism a testament to how he was raised. “It’s exceptionally gratifying to see these generations following in my parents’ footsteps – their children, their grandchildren and great-grandchildren. That’s pretty amazing.”

The family business – Jay Egge Automatic Service – also is passed down through the generations. Started by the Egges in 1977, Todd Egge ran it after his dad and now his son, Joe, runs the business. In his lifetime, Jay Egge was passionate about mentoring the next generations of automotive mechanics.

In the 1980s, Southeast Technical College invited Jay Egge to join the 12-member advisory board that oversees the school’s automotive technology program. He served with that group until his death in 2001.

Dorothy Egge, who was a registered nurse, cared deeply about taking care of others.

“My mom would go to nursing homes for other church members when she was into her 90s,” Todd Egge said, laughing. “She would still drive – when she hit 92, she said she was going to only drive in east Sioux Falls.”

He says his parents led by example.

“They had a purpose. Every day they got out of bed, they had a purpose for that day,” Todd Egge said. “And to lead by that example, if you didn’t pick it up, you weren’t paying attention.”

Meeting community needs

The couple were married for more than 50 years. After Jay passed, Dorothy ensured their shared commitment would live on by arranging a gift to benefit future generations. Through this planned gift, the Jay and Dorothy Egge Family Endowment was created at the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation. True to the causes they valued most, distributions will support education in fields like automotive technology and nursing.

Todd Egge notes that the legacy his parents left serves continuing community needs – automotive mechanics and nurses are two high-demand fields in Sioux Falls, and their gift allows more students to choose those career paths.

“They watched Sioux Falls grow to what it is,” Todd Egge said, noting their commitment to the community. “It’s Jay and Dorothy and the footsteps they put down. They would be so happy.”

Other family members agree. Dorothy and Jay had six children – Bonnie, John, Darlene, Alan, Marilyn and Todd.

“Our parents strived to raise educated, independent and self-sufficient individuals,” they said in a statement. “Sharing their success by supporting up-and-coming young people illustrates their positive wishes for others.”

Todd Egge talks about the value of knowing your community – of walking into a restaurant and seeing familiar and friendly faces, of having your name on the door of your family business, of feeling proud of generations of hard work and accomplishment.

“My wife and I, we both say we learned unconditional love from our parents,” Todd Egge said. “It’s had a great impact on my life, and the things we engage in and how it goes back to our community. I’ve heard a lot about how you receive a lot more by giving, and it’s so true in life.”

His five siblings agree.

“Witnessing their involvement in the organizations that mattered to them has carried through to their children,” they said. “Mom and Dad would not think twice about charitable giving back to others. For the siblings, it’s a model worth following.”

Value of endowments

Mary Kolsrud, chief philanthropy officer for the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation, said the Egges are the perfect example of how philanthropy can help build a brighter future while honoring the past.

“Through their endowment fund, their spirit of generosity continues. It’s a beautiful way to continue to give in the community they loved,” Kolsrud said. “Jay and Dorothy’s legacy is truly a reflection of the values they lived by – a lasting example of giving back and caring for others.”

Stephen Williamson, director of the Southeast Technical College Foundation, called the Egge Family Endowment “a wonderful surprise.”

“The fact that they included us in their estate plans was humbling,” Williamson said, noting that Jay Egge and his family have been influential at Southeast Tech. “It’s a name that is not only memorable but also known.”

Williamson said endowed funds really are a gift that keeps on giving.

“Endowed funds are perpetuating,” Williamson said. “They are always growing and always paying out. These are dollars you can count on every year when you are balancing your scholarship budget. There’s a certain comfort in that.”

Wiliamson said about 150 students are enrolled in some sort of automotive technology program at Southeast Tech, which has a total enrollment of about 2,600 students. Most of the students at Southeast Tech come from middle to low-income families.

“Scholarship dollars make a difference in their life,” Williamson said. “When a student gets a scholarship, at that moment, they know they’ve done something. Someone is investing in them. I’ve never met a student yet who didn’t walk a little taller, with a little more confidence after they get a scholarship”

Williamson said the Egge Family Endowment scholarships will help recruit students into the auto tech program. He loves that they gave to a trade they were so passionate about.

“People like Jay Egge and the Egge family help move the ball forward, so we can continue to serve students in this region,” he said. “Their gift perpetuates what their personal mission was, and what was so important to them, and we can be part of that. That makes me happy.”

Honoring a legacy

Todd Egge pauses for a moment.

He looks again at the list of committees and boards and volunteer activities his parents engaged in. He talks about how people support each other – kids and grandkids, cousins and friends. Being so involved can be overwhelming – but when Todd Egge watches members of his extended family give of their time, it reminds him of his parents.

“They taught all their children to follow their example,” he said. “And, in return, it feels good to honor their legacy.”