David Harvey Mills, Dvm

David Harvey Mills was born on February 17, 1948 at Orange, New Jersey to Dorothy Marguerite (nee Harvey) and Clarence (Ben) Mills.  He was raised in East Orange near his paternal grandparents for the first ten years of his life. Then his family moved to Huntington, Long Island, where his hobby was raising small animals.

David graduated from Walt Whitman High School, then surprised his family by deciding to attend South Dakota State University rather than several other local schools.  He said it was because of their animal science program.

It was at SDSU that he met his future wife of over 51 years, Gloria (nee Johnson).  They were married at West Nidaros Lutheran Church, Crooks, SD on August 2, 1969.

He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Animal Science and then was accepted into Veterinary school at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama.  He practiced veterinary medicine for several years in Lodi, and Sheboygan, Wisconsin.  Eventually he opened his own practice in Cleveland, Wisconsin.  The days spent on dairy farms working with cows were his favorite.

David believed in a strong educational system and was elected to the Sheboygan Area School Board.  He served for six years, several of them as president.

After their children graduated high school and college and spread their wings, Dave and his wife decided to (semi) retire and return to South Dakota.  He enjoyed gardening, raising sheep and rabbits and his little piece of heaven in the country.

David struggled with diabetes and its complications for many years.  The disease finally won the battle on May 16, 2021 at Madison Regional Health System.

Besides his wife, he is survived by his children:  Matthew (April) and their children Helen, Theodore, Alice, and Henry of Ellensburg, WA; Cortney (Allison) and children Clara and Hudson of Miami, FL; Amanda of Los Gatos, CA; and Alexander of Colton, SD.  He is also survived by two brothers, Richard (Patricia) of Leesburg, VA; and Donald (Cynthia) of Hampstead, NC and many nieces and nephews.

Public memorial visitation will be from 4-6:00 PM Friday, May 21, 2021 with a private family memorial service following at the Minnehaha Funeral Home, Dell Rapids.