Dennis Lee Fossum

A heart of gold stopped beating, two shining eyes at rest. God broke our hearts to prove … He only takes the best.

Dennis “Denny” L. Fossum, 56, of Dell Rapids passed away Tuesday, July 6, 2010 at Avera McKennan Hospital. A Celebration of Life Service will be held at 9:00 AM Saturday, July 10, 2010 at the Lutheran Church of Dell Rapids. Burial will be in the Dell Rapids Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 1:00 PM Friday, July 9, 2010 with the family present from 5-8:00 PM at the Minnehaha Funeral Home, Dell Rapids.

Denny was born on December 11, 1953 to Allen and Erma (Tammen) Fossum. He was raised on the farm as a kid and participated in Boy Scouts and 4-H. He graduated from Canton High School in 1972. He married his high school sweetheart and love of his life for 38 years, Ardie Plucker, on July 8, 1972. The couple then moved to the Dell Rapids area. He was an amazing and dedicated husband, dad and grandpa.

Denny was a current employee of the Dell Rapids Lumber Company. He was a dedicated Dell Rapids Volunteer Firefighter for 25 years and an EMT on the Dells Ambulance Service for 21 years. Denny loved life and enjoyed making people of all ages smile. His unique and easy laugh lit up the room. He enjoyed woodworking and had the talent to fix anything and was always there to lend a hand.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Ardie of Dell Rapids; daughter, Denise Logan of Dell Rapids; a granddaughter, Taiven Logan; parents Allen and Erma Fossum of Canton; brothers: Gary (Lori) Fossum of Lennox, Doug (Jodi) Fossum of Canton and Allan (Mary) Fossum of Canton; sisters: Lynda (Rich) Rol of Gary, Deb (Raymond) Harris of Canton and Carol (Bob) Bucholz of Harrisburg; many nieces and nephews; and numerous other relatives and friends.

Denny spent the last three and a half years fighting for his life, living each moment with the motto: “Every day is a good day!”