Dean Clair Karli

Dean Clair Karli, age 66, of Garretson, died on May 18, 2022, surrounded by his family after a courageous battle with cancer. Funeral services will begin at 1:30 PM Monday, May 23, 2022, at Zion Lutheran Church, Garretson. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 3-5:00 PM Sunday, at the Minnehaha Funeral Home, Garretson.

Dean was born on July 30, 1955 in Sioux Falls, SD to Milton and Norma (Anderson) Karli. He graduated from Garretson High School in 1973. After high school, he traveled from the east and west coast with friends where they did odd jobs to support themselves. He returned to Garretson in 1977 and worked for Burlington Northern Railroad. He met Edith Danielsen, the love of his life in 1979. They were married on August 15, 1981 and enjoyed 40 years of marriage. Dean went back to school and graduated from the inaugural class of Biomedical Engineering from Southeast Technical Institute in Sioux Falls, SD in 1994.  He was then employed by Pace, which subsequently became Avera where he retired as Director of Biomedical Engineering in May of 2021.

Dean was active in the community. He served on the Sherman Fire Department, co-chair of Sherman Centennial, treasurer of Zion Lutheran Church, pool board member, and River Ridge Golf Course board. His hobbies included attending events for his daughters and then his grandchildren, golfing, camping, biking, woodworking, and passing time in the garage tinkering. He enjoyed spending time with family and friends.

Dean is survived by his wife, Edith, Garretson; daughters: Amanda (Joshua) Adams, Elk Point, Betsy (Anthony) Soyak, Sioux Falls, and Claire (Christian) Ode, Brandon; grandchildren: Parker, Garrett, Regan, Skyler, Thomas, and Harvey; brother, Steve (Belinda) Karli, Sioux Falls; niece, Katie (Mark) Verner, Tea, SD; brother-in-law, Roger Danielsen, Utica; and sister-in-law, LeeAnn (Dave) Carlon, Sioux Falls. He was preceded in death by his parents, Milton and Norma Karli, and a brother, Mark Karli.