Donald D Denke, 75, of Pavillion died on Wednesday, November 27, 2013 at Riverton Memorial Hospital in Riverton. As were his wishes, cremation has taken place and no services will be held.
Donald Dean Denke was born on June 24, 1938 to Reinhold and Rose (Helms) Denke on a farm near Pedro, SD. He was the sixth of eleven children. He graduated from the eighth grade and started working as a ranch hand for various neighbors up and down the Cheyenne River. He was confirmed into the Lutheran Church.
He served with the South Dakota National Guard for six years.
On October 17, 1959 her married Delores Hansen of Philip, SD in the First Lutheran Church. Together they raised six daughters.
As a young man he began his long love of anything with an engine. With this he held many different jobs over the years including, an apprentice in a body shop, John Deere School, and had a private fence building business. In 1964 he moved the family to the Midvale Irrigation Project (the Second Division Part). He started his own farming business and raised potatoes and delivered the farm lamb crop to Riverton 47 out of the 49 years he as on the farm. He participated in many conservation projects, which he took what he, learned and re-fenced his farm according to the watersheds and preserved native ecosystems.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Delores; his two sisters, Gayla Logan of Philip, SD and Cerella Overgard of Riverton, WY; his two brothers, Marvin Denke and Byron Denke; his children, Dr Patricia Denke and her husband Dr. Jeff Littlefield and their daughter, Miranda Rose and granddaughter, Alyce Rose, Doneen Fitzsimmons and her husband Tom and their children, TJ and Josh; Juanita Mair and her husband Randy and their children, Dylan, his wife Karla Moss, Parker and Slade; Crystal Edwards and her husband Gordon and their children, Sean and Ariel, Lisa Denke, “the son”, Richard Denke and his wife Angela and their daughter, Leslie; and Ginger Bennett and her husband Matt and their daughter, Delores.
The family said that Don requested that since he was not having a service, “people take a moment from their day to remember him”.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Davis Funeral Home.
Donald Dean Denke was born on June 24, 1938 to Reinhold and Rose (Helms) Denke on a farm near Pedro, SD. He was the sixth of eleven children. He graduated from the eighth grade and started working as a ranch hand for various neighbors up and down the Cheyenne River. He was confirmed into the Lutheran Church.
He served with the South Dakota National Guard for six years.
On October 17, 1959 her married Delores Hansen of Philip, SD in the First Lutheran Church. Together they raised six daughters.
As a young man he began his long love of anything with an engine. With this he held many different jobs over the years including, an apprentice in a body shop, John Deere School, and had a private fence building business. In 1964 he moved the family to the Midvale Irrigation Project (the Second Division Part). He started his own farming business and raised potatoes and delivered the farm lamb crop to Riverton 47 out of the 49 years he as on the farm. He participated in many conservation projects, which he took what he, learned and re-fenced his farm according to the watersheds and preserved native ecosystems.
He is survived by his wife of 54 years, Delores; his two sisters, Gayla Logan of Philip, SD and Cerella Overgard of Riverton, WY; his two brothers, Marvin Denke and Byron Denke; his children, Dr Patricia Denke and her husband Dr. Jeff Littlefield and their daughter, Miranda Rose and granddaughter, Alyce Rose, Doneen Fitzsimmons and her husband Tom and their children, TJ and Josh; Juanita Mair and her husband Randy and their children, Dylan, his wife Karla Moss, Parker and Slade; Crystal Edwards and her husband Gordon and their children, Sean and Ariel, Lisa Denke, “the son”, Richard Denke and his wife Angela and their daughter, Leslie; and Ginger Bennett and her husband Matt and their daughter, Delores.
The family said that Don requested that since he was not having a service, “people take a moment from their day to remember him”.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Davis Funeral Home.