Kalani Sa, age 50, of Wood Lake, Minnesota, died on Sunday, September 19, 2021, at the Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Visitation will be held from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Friday, September 24, 2021, at the Hamilton Funeral Home in Marshall. A Graveside Service, open to the public, will be at 10:00 a.m. Saturday, September 25, 2021, at the Wood Lake Cemetery. Please join the family for a Hawaiian “A Hui Hou” (“When We Meet Again”) memorial service at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, May 28, 2022, at the Church if Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Marshall. Lunch for all will be served following the service.
Franklin Lee Kalani Sa was born on April 19, 1971, in Lihue, Kauai, Hawaii. He was the son of Frank and Patricia (King) Sa. Kalani moved to the Mainland with his family at the age of 3. He lived in various states around the country. He attended a different school every year and completed high school in Philadelphia, PA. He went on to further his education at ITT Technical Institute in Phoenix, Arizona, earning his bachelor’s degree in electronics engineering. He was baptized and confirmed a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Kalani served a two year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Johannesburg, South Africa speaking Afrikaans. He very much enjoyed opportunities to speak Afrikaans locally. On July 17, 1999, Kalani was united in marriage to Cindy Champion in Bluffdale, Utah. The couple made their home in Minnesota, settling in Wood Lake in 2001. Kalani and Cindy welcomed three sons during their marriage. Kalani worked 20 years for BH Electronics in Marshall, MN as a Manufacturing Engineer. During his early years in Marshall, he also worked part-time at Walmart. He was an active member of the Wood Lake Cemetery board and worked with both the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts, serving as Scoutmaster for Troop 310. When Kalani was not working or mentoring others, he enjoyed woodworking, carpentry, and participating in craft shows. He made survivor bracelets, Native American flutes, and ukuleles. Maybe his favorite byproduct of time spent on hobbies was the fact that he got to meet a lot of other people that shared similar interests and he enjoyed visiting with them all. Kalani also enjoyed crocheting hats for premature babies to donate to the hospital. Most notably, Kalani was a lifelong student. He spent his entire life trying to learn new skills to better himself and use it to serve others. Recently, he was immersed in researching the scriptures which allowed him to know his Savior more intimately.
Kalani passed from this life in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, on Sunday, September 19, 2021. He reached the age of 50 years and 5 months.
Kalani is survived by his wife of 22 years Cindy, of Wood Lake; 2 sons, Keoki and Ikaia of Wood Lake; father, Frank (Georgia) Sa of Cottonwood, AZ; sisters, Kim Shortlidge of Marcus Hook, PA, Becky (Mike) Montgomery of Parker, CO; brother Joshua (Karen) Curless of Huntington Beach, CA; sisters, Jenny (Kyle) Miller of Centreville, VA; Sharon (Brian) Driver of Cottonwood, AZ, Shellie (Robert) Christensen of Wheatland, WY; many nephews, nieces, other relatives and friends. Kalani was preceded in death by his mother, Patricia; son, Nohea; and a sister, Josephine Johnson.
