By Benson Judge | Published: July 19, 2026 | Sources: Official statements from Sanford Health, public records, verified news reports, and family announcements.
SIOUX FALLS, South Dakota — T. Denny Sanford, the visionary businessman and one of America’s most generous philanthropists, passed away on Saturday, July 18, 2026, at the age of 90. Through his extraordinary giving, Sanford transformed healthcare across the Upper Midwest and left a lasting legacy that will benefit generations.
Born in 1935, Sanford built First Premier Bank into a major national credit card issuer. He later channeled his success into philanthropy on an unprecedented scale. In 2007, he made a historic $400 million gift to Sioux Valley Hospitals and Health System — at the time one of the largest donations in U.S. healthcare history — leading the organization to be renamed Sanford Health. His total contributions to Sanford Health reached nearly $2 billion, funding children’s hospitals, cancer research, diabetes initiatives, the Sanford Underground Research Facility, and innovative programs in genetics and rural healthcare.
A signatory of The Giving Pledge, Sanford dedicated much of his life to improving the human condition, with a strong focus on children’s health, education, and medical research. Leaders across South Dakota, including Governor Larry Rhoden, have described him as the state’s greatest philanthropist.
Sanford is survived by his two sons and extended family.
Funeral services will be arranged by the family, with details expected to be released through Sanford Health and local funeral homes in the coming days.
In lieu of flowers, the family encourages continued support for the charitable causes and organizations that were central to Denny’s life’s work, particularly those advancing healthcare and research through Sanford Health Foundation.
