OUR  STORY

The Beginnings

During the early Twenties, M.B. Smemoe, distressed about the rising costs of funerals in many place, made plans to alleviate the burdens of the bereaved. In 1924, he began to make definite plans for organizing the Minnehaha County Burial Association with family memberships that would entitle those families to reduced expenses for funerals. After making trips to the state capitol in Pierre, he learned that they could secure a charter for such an organization.

Mr. Smemoe, with the help of Colton mortician E.A. Berven, canvassed the county to obtain family memberships at $10.00 per share. The significant purpose of the Minnehaha County Burial Association was to provide efficient and dignified funeral services at reasonable prices. The association was formed in late 1928, and the business operation began in the building in which the Baltic Chapel is now located.

The first public meeting was held August 14, 1928, in Baltic with the first share purchased by Martin Erickson. Many shares were sold over the years with two Board Members known to have sold many. They were Lars Wold and Granville Grinde.

The Charter Board of Directors included Martin Erickson, Lewis Simonson, Ole Smemoe, Paul Riswold, E.A. Berven, and M.B. Smemoe. Erickson, elected the first president of the Minnehaha County Burial Association, served in that capacity for the first nine years.

The Minnehaha County Burial Association started operation in the present Baltic Chapel in early 1929. At the annual meeting of 1938, members of the Association approved the purchase of the building for $500.00. The structure was built in 1902 by O.J. Questad and was named the O.J. Questad Pioneer Store. In 1955, the Funeral Home was completely remodeled and an open house was held on Memorial Day of that year. The Association grew and its name was changed to "The Minnehaha Funeral Home" on November 19, 1955.

Loss and Expansion

On Christmas Day, 1964, fire swept through the funeral home causing thousands of dollars in damage. Roger Osthus, who was on duty at the home at the time, was asleep in the second floor apartment of the building. He was able to escape via the elevator in the building but was taken to the Dell Rapids Hospital suffering from the effects of the smoke. Fire departments from Baltic, Dell Rapids, and Renner answered the call. Plans were made immediately to remodel and temporary headquarters were set up in the Baltic Legion Hall. After the remodeling was completed, an open house was held May 16, 1965.

In 1976, plans were made for construction of a funeral chapel in Colton and on March 8, 1977, the Colton Funeral Chapel was completed. On October 1, 1984, the association purchased the Julius Funeral Chapel in Garretson at 505 Canyon Avenue. As business expanded, federal ADA requirements and lack of space forced the construction of a new 4,000-square foot facility at 101 South Leslie Drive in the Johnson Development of Garretson. To continue offering better facilities to the families served in the area, a 700-square-foot addition was added to the Colton Chapel in 1998. The addition included a casket display room and office. In 1999, the directors were approached by citizens of Dell Rapids regarding the building of a funeral home in that community. A survey, conducted by the University of South Dakota, indicated a need and construction began in 2000. The 4,000-square- foot funeral home is located at 104 East 4th Street in Dell Rapids. In 1998, the directors began encouraging women to serve on the board. Leonard Johnson and Leonard Sandberg of Crooks decided not to seek re-election in 1999. Joan Eitrheim and Cheryl Schoer were elected as the first women to serve on the Board of Directors at the 70th annual meeting in Colton. After 40 years under the direction of Myron G. Nohava as Manager, Douglas G. Nohava took over as Manager in 2017.

Horse Drawn Hearse

On October 13, 2007, Minnehaha Funeral Home purchased a late 1800's horse drawn hearse at the estate sale of Art Moe. Art Moe lived near Baltic and was known for his extensive knowledge and collection of historical items which included this hearse. He even maintained a private museum in his barn. The funeral home was granted permission by Art in 2006 to enter the hearse in Baltic's 125th Anniversary Parade. 

After Art's death in February of 2007, the Minnehaha Funeral Home Board of Directors felt the funeral home should purchase the hearse and keep it in the area. We recently completed a beautiful restoration of the hearse and our goal is to have it entered in at least one parade a year.

Current Board of Directors

Kathy Evenson - Renner

Craig Dybedahl - Colton

Royal Ellefson - Garretson

Julie Hammer - Baltic

Charlie Holzapfel - Brandon

Noel Ahl - Crooks

Char Johnson - Baltic

Rod Van Der Vliet - Colton

Steve Theisen - Dell Rapids

Keith Merry - Dell Rapids

Rod Hanson - Crooks

Past Managers

Martin B. Smemoe 1928-1929

Ed Berven 1929-1937

Ray Ellsworth 1937-1948

Marvin Kittelson 1948-1954

Gordon Thompson 1954-1964

Delmar Wevik 1964-1973

Craig Sexton 1973-1977

Myron G. Nohava 1977-2017

Douglas G. Nohava 2017-