Tanya Lea Herder-Davis, age 47, of Walnut Grove and formerly of Spring Valley, passed away Friday, April 17, 2020, at her home with her family by her side, following a courageous eight-month battle with stage 4 endometrial cancer. Graveside services will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, April 24, 2020, at St. Olaf Cemetery in Ann Township, with Radio Frequency Transmission in your vehicles/ Facebook Live Feed at Stephens Funeral Service Facebook page. In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Facebook page link can be found and online condolences may be sent at www.stephensfuneralservice.com. Stephens Funeral Service – Walnut Grove Funeral Home is assisting the family with arrangements.
Tanya Lea Herder-Davis was born May 30, 1972, to David and Nancy (Bakken) Herder in Litchfield, Minn. She was baptized at Zion Lutheran Church in Litchfield and confirmed at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Spring Valley. Tanya graduated from Spring Valley High School in 1990. She continued her education at Riverland Community College in Austin, where she completed the Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant program. On August 14, 1999, Tanya married Travis Davis of Ostrander at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Spring Valley. After receiving her degree, Tanya spent 16 years working with (and loving) her elderly patients at several nursing homes in southwest Minnesota. She started providing foster care in 2013, offering a safe and loving home for a handful of children. In October 2016, Tanya pursued her dream of opening a daycare center, Tanya’s Tumblers, in Walnut Grove. She absolutely loved her “littles,” as she would call the children in her care. Tanya was especially thrilled when her granddaughter Lillian became a client! Tanya was the proud mother of two sons, Jarett Herder and Jerome Davis, and she adored her granddaughter Lillian above anything else. She loved her “littles,” remodeling the daycare house, and going on cruises with her family. To pass the time Tanya enjoyed camping, bonfires and shopping for her favorite LuLaRoe leggings. She always made time to keep in touch with her Facebook and Diva Dots friends. Tanya loved spending time with her loved ones, was the queen of selfies, and referred to herself as the “cool” aunt.
Tanya is survived by her husband Travis, parents David and Nancy Herder of Walnut Grove, children Jarett (Amy) Herder and Jerome Davis, both of Walnut Grove; grandchild Lillian Grace Herder, sisters Tami (Paul) Vesey of Lakefield and Teri (Jim) Herder-Blahnik of Mankato, parents-in-law Brian and Pam Davis of Spring Valley, sister-in-law Kelly (Adam) Pyfferoen, brother-in-law Todd Davis, nieces and nephews Ryan, Meghan, Tori and Lucas Vesey, Matthew Webber, Marshall and Mason Garbe, Andrew Blahnik, Adyson and Owen Pyfferoen, and Carson and Brooklyn Davis; great-niece Luna Garbe; fur babies Teddy, Bailey, and Snowflake; many aunts, uncles and cousins; and her daycare children and families.
She is preceded in death by her grandparents Vernen and Fern Herder and Harry and Marge Bakken, cousin Derek Bakken, grandparents-in-law Clifford and Jean Davis and Marlys Zwart, and uncles-in-law Doug Ferguson and Jim Hovde.