Jerri Lynn (Banaka) Denton, 52, of New Bloomfield, MO, passed away Saturday, November 26, 2022 at St. Mary- Hospital in Jefferson City, MO. She was born November 14, 1970 in Topeka, KS, the daughter of James L. and Janet Kay (Sharp) Banaka.

Jerri graduated from Jackson Heights High School in 1989 and Highland Community College. She earned her Masters Degree from Missouri Western College.

She was a Chief Negotiator for the State of Missouri and previously with the fitness program at Missouri Highway Patrol.

Jerri married Bradley Denton on August 8, 1989 in Holton; they later divorced.

Survivors include her fiancé, Christopher Schumann of the home; father, Jim Banaka of Netawaka, KS; 2 sons, Nick Denton of Florida and Brandon Denton of Holt Summit, MO; 2 sisters, Janelle Bell (Brad) of Trenton, TX and Julie Shook (Zane) of Carbondale, KS; 1 niece; 4 nephews and 4 great-nieces.

She was preceded in death by a son, Logan Alan Denton; her mother, Janet Banaka; brother, James Bradley “Brad” Banaka and a nephew, Wyatt Zane Shook.

Funeral Service will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, December 5, 2022 at the Mercer Funeral Home in Holton. Burial will follow at the Netawaka Cemetery. Family will greet friends from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Sunday afternoon at the funeral home. Memorials may be made to Mercer Funeral Home (to help with funeral expenses) c/o Mercer Funeral Home, P.O. Box 270, Holton, KS 66436. To leave a special message for the family, please visit www.mercerfuneralhomes.com.