He often said many people live a life of success, but you should try to live a life of significance."
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Miles Beacom, campaign chair for the Sioux Empire United Way, added: "Denny changed the landscape of giving.
He could have done many things with his money, yet he reinvested it in South Dakota. Our universities and health care are stronger today because of Denny."
Early Life and Career
Raised in St. Paul, Minnesota, Sanford lost his mother to breast cancer at age 4 and worked at his father's wholesale garment business from age 8.
After a youth brawl led to a 90-day jail sentence, he redirected his path toward higher education, graduating from the University of Minnesota with a psychology degree.
"It turned out to be one of the best things in my life," he said of the jail sentence.
"I said, 'Judge, you gave me the best wake-up call I could ever have. If you let me out, I’ll go to college.'
I had no intention of going to college before getting in trouble."
After selling his chemical manufacturing firm Contech Inc. in 1982, Sanford acquired First Premier Bank in 1986.
His net worth reached over $3 billion through PREMIER Bankcard's subprime lending business; Forbes estimated his wealth at $2.4 billion.
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Today, Sanford Health employs 55,000 workers, operating 58 hospitals and 289 clinic locations across seven states.
