Ray Dejong

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Raymond DeJong, 76, of Dell Rapids, SD passed away Wednesday, November 8, 2017 at the Dells Nursing Home.

Ray was born November 29, 1940 in Chester, South Dakota to George and Anna (Bethlehem) DeJong. Ray grew up in the Chester/Colton area and graduated from Colton High School. Ray was united in marriage to Joan Simonsen on October 22, 1965 and resided in Brookings from 1965 until 2003 when they built their new home in Dell Rapids.

Ray attended SDSU for one semester before taking a “temporary” job at Sioux Valley Energy in Colman, SD. This temporary job turned into a permanent job spanning 50 years. He worked as a lineman and then a foreman of the rural Brookings area prior to taking a manager position in the Colman office. He ended his career as Operations Manager of the Brandon, SD office in 2010. During his time at Sioux Valley he had the opportunity to hire and train several employees. He also managed his crews during several ice and snow storms.

Growing up Ray always had a dog by his side. His love for dogs and hunting continued into adulthood. In 1985 he purchased his first Small Munsterlander Pointer from Lincoln, NE and his second from Boston, MA. This was the start of DeJong Kennels. The following years included several litters of puppies, invitations to the South Dakota Governor’s Hunts, private hunting guide, several South Dakota and Minnesota Pheasant Championships, and hours of pheasant and grouse hunting especially with his good friend Steve Foerster. Ray was an excellent trap and skeet shooter and enjoyed weekly trips to the gun range. In recent years, Ray’s health kept him from hunting, but he enjoyed hearing stories from his son-in-laws, grandsons, and hunting buddies.

Ray loved his wife, his two daughters, his son-in-laws, and his grandchildren. He beamed with pride when talking about his family. Ray and his wife Joan were married for 52 years. They completed several remodeling projects together on their old farmhouse outside of Brookings. They had a large garden every year and enjoyed cooking meals together. Ray instilled the value of hard work and education to his daughters. Ray wasn’t able to continue his college education due to financial reasons. He worked hard to provide for their education and always said that the education and degrees you earn can never be taken away. Ray enjoyed watching his grandsons play football and basketball and was their biggest fan. His granddaughters spent every weekend with him this summer and brought many smiles and joy.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Joan of 52 years, 2 daughters and son-in-laws and 4 grandchildren. Ann & Reid Paulson (Brynn & Lauren), Marshall, MN, Kris & Josh Smith (Luke & Jack), Sioux Falls, SD. As well as sister Frieda Bos, Beresford, SD, and sister-in-law Gertrude DeJong, Colton, SD and brother-in-laws Verlyn Rentschler, Egan, SD, Gene Basset, Belle Fourche, SD, a brother in law, Donald (Karen) Simonsen, Chester and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and in-laws (Einar & Emma Simonsen); siblings, Jake DeJong, Charlie DeJong, George DeJong, Thres Burgers, Dorothy Swier, Susan Bassett, and Anna Rentschler.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Rodney Park Memorial Scholarship (Sioux Valley Energy’s Scholarship program).

Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Monday, November 13, 2017 at St. Joseph the Workman (Huntimer) Catholic Church 46402 245th St. Colton, SD with burial in St. Joseph Cemetery. Visitation will be at Minnehaha Funeral Home, Dell Rapids, SD from 2:00 – 4:00 p.m. Sunday, with a prayer service starting at 4:00pm.