Dr. James "Vince" Jones

Dr. James Vincent “Vince” Jones, 73, of Sioux Falls, SD passed away on Tuesday, June 10, 2025 at the Dougherty House in Sioux Falls, SD.

Funeral Mass will be 10:30 am Thursday, June 19, at Church of St. Mary, 2109 S. 5th Ave., Sioux Falls, SD with burial at Hills of Rest Cemetery.

Visitation with the family present to greet friends will be from 4:30 – 6:30 pm Wednesday, June 18, with a Liturgical Wake service and Rosary beginning at 6:30 pm all at the Church of St. Mary.

Dr. James Vincent “Vince” Jones was born on December 13, 1951 in Huron, S.D. to Vern and Margy (Malone) Jones. He attended Huron High School and graduated in 1970. He attended Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska and graduated with his B.S. in 1974. He then attended Creighton University School of Dentistry and graduated with his DDS in 1978.

Vince was very active in high school football and wrestling at Huron High School. From a young age, he worked in his father’s Dodge dealership in Huron and learned almost everything he knew about cars and their parts. His dad instilled in him a great work ethic and an entrepreneurial spirit. His work with his dad also inspired his love of cars.

He married Marilyn Jacobs and began his dental practice in Sioux Falls, S.D. He then opened the very first dental practice to be opened in a shopping mall locations in South Dakota, Family Dental Center. First in Brookings, and finally Sioux Falls. He was introduced to the late Dr. Pat Colbert, at the suggestion of his great friend Ken Levine, to form the mall practice. A third partner, Dr. Orin Ellwein joined the practice a bit later. The practice thrived in the Empire Mall for many years until the partners moved their practice to its current location. Vince and his partners were very well known in the community for their patient-oriented practice, as well as being excellent employers. Many of the Family Dental Center team remained with the practice for over 25 years. He loved dentistry and was devoted to his practice. He was affectionately known by his patients and staff for his whistling and humming as he worked. He retired from the practice in 2015. 

Vince was on the board of the Central Region Dental Testing Service and served as president of that board in 2003-2004. It was his time on that board that he met some of his dearest friends in life. They were all avid sportsmen and they spent much time together on hunting and fishing adventures. He will be sorely missed among them. Vince married Sandy Swalley in 2012 and they bought an acreage in Hartford, S.D. Vince loved living in the country. Vince and Sandy remodeled their home and enjoyed hosting family and friends for hayrides and bonfires. Vince dearly loved the outdoors. He was an avid sportsman and spent some of the best times of his life hunting and fishing with his friends and family. He built a hunting location on his land near Huron that Sandy lovingly named “the man ranch”. He hosted countless hunting experiences for his many friends and family there.

Vince loved classic cars and belonged to two car clubs in Sioux Falls. He owned 6 classic cars that he enjoyed driving and fixing. (Sometimes he did more fixing than driving.) He restored an old blue 1973 International Scout taken in as a trade at his father’s Dodge dealership in Huron. The whole family treasures it to this day. His most recent classic car “ baby” was a 1937 Cord manufactured by the Auburn Cord Duesenberg car company. It is a rare two-tone version of that model and it is the only one of its kind. He had it completely restored and it won a first place honor at the 2024 annual reunion of that car company in Auburn, Indiana. The team that restored that fabulous car called Vince “Two-Tone Jones”.

Vince had a heart for blood donation and he was proud to be able to donate blood as often as he could before his illness. He also liked to regularly deliver needed items to Bishop Dudley Hospitality House. He was a long-time member of the Church of St. Mary in Sioux Falls. He loved the Lord and his church home.

Vince is survived by his wife Sandy, his sons,Vince Jones (Kelly), Dan Jones (Leah), his stepdaughters, Kara Swalley and Kate Swalley, his sisters, Michelle Nelson and her husband Bill, Green Bay, WI, Cathy Sopinski and her fiance, Tom Myers, Greenwood, Indiana, 9 grandchildren, Vinny, Sydney, Brooks, Olivia, James, Raina, Anders, Juan and Roman, and many nieces, nephews and beloved friends. He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents. 

Memorials may be directed to the St. Mary Elementary School at 3100 W. 41st Street, Sioux Falls, S.D. 57105; attn: Dawn Wheeler, and the Bishop Dudley Hospitality House, 101 N. Indiana, Sioux Falls, S.D. 57103