Duane Frederick Davis

Duane Frederick Davis, 82, of Garretson died Thursday, May 12, 2011 at the Good Samaritan Center in Sioux Falls. Funeral services will begin at 10:30 A.M. Monday, May 16, 2011, at Zion Lutheran Church, Garretson. Visitation will begin at 2:00 P.M. Sunday, with the family present from 4-7:00 P.M. and a Prayer Service and Memory Sharing will begin at 7:00 P.M. at the Minnehaha Funeral Home, Garretson.

Duane was born December 29, 1928, to parents Fred and Fern (Rademacher) Davis on a farm near Adrian Minnesota. His parents were visiting friends at the Gladhill Farm when Duane suddenly entered this world. No doctor was available and was born premature. Fern and Fritz took Duane home in a shoebox lined with cotton batting and were told he wouldn’t survive. Duane attended schools at Brandon, Adrian, Minnesota, graduating from Jasper High School. Duane graduated being the shortest in his class at 5’ 1”. After graduation Duane farmed with his dad. He played softball with a Garretson team until 1951 when he entered the Army. He played ball and went to 3 different technical schools while in the service. During that time he grew 11 inches. He was discharged from the Army in September, 1952. Duane worked with a high line crew before he started farming with his dad in 1952. His sister Marilyn introduced him to a sweet gal from Lyons SD, Darlene Benson, who he later married, in October 1953. He farmed around Garretson until 1961 when he broke his neck in a swimming accident. He and his brother Allen went into a trucking/shelling business. Five years later he took a job with the Milwaukee Road pulling piggybacks. In 1967 he went into Federal meat inspection at John Morrell in Sioux Falls SD where he retired in 1991. He went to work for Leo Lowe and Ellison Meat Co. in Pipestone MN. Duane and Darlene owned and operated the Davis Motel which they purchased from his parents, Fritz and Fern in 1974. They truly loved operating the motel, as there was always a cup of coffee and even a meal or two to be shared with guests.

Duane’s greatest joy was his love of playing softball. Upon pitching a no-hitter against the Colonel’s chosen hand-picked team, the Colonel asked if he was ready to go to Korea, or would he rather pitch softball for his team. Of course, he chose to stay in the States. Duane’s weekends were filled with ball tournaments, dancing, fishing trips, and sightseeing throughout the United States. As his six children grew he was found at every sporting event they were involved in. Duane never missed a state wrestling tournament since 1970. Duane enjoyed watching his children and grandchildren’s events. He was a Blue Dragon fan as well as a Minnesota Vikings and Minnesota Twins fan.

Duane was loved by his children, Wayne and his wife Gwen, of Wall SD; Dawn and her husband Oran Sorenson, Garretson SD; Deann and her husband Paul Park, Brandon, SD; Wade and his wife Sherry, Lakewood, CO; Debbie and her husband David Bonte, Garretson, SD; and Darla and her husband Scott Bly, Slayton, MN; Duane’s only sister Marilyn Qualley and her husband Sid, Eau Claire, WI; sister-in-law Janet Davis, Wentworth SD; sister-in-law Marilyn Benson, Canby MN; brother-in-law Lyle Benson, Sioux Falls SD; and a host of relatives, his 16 grandchildren and 7 great-grandchildren.
Duane was preceded in death by his wife, Darlene, his parents, and younger brother Allen.