John Andrew Hegge

John Andrew Hegge, 77, of Dell Rapids died July 27, 2022, at the Sioux Falls Veterans Hospital. A memorial gathering will be held from 5-7:00 PM on Thursday, August 4, 2022, at the Minnehaha Funeral Home, Dell Rapids. Interment will be at 1:00 PM, Friday, August 5, 2022, at the South Dakota State Veterans Cemetery, Sioux Falls.

John was born on August 4, 1944, in Dell Rapids, to Justin G. and Agnes C. (Overby) Hegge. He grew up at Hegge Station west of Dell Rapids and graduated from Baltic High School. After his graduation, he was drafted into the United States Army in 1965. He served in Vietnam as an aviation mechanic and gunner in a Chinook helicopter. His time serving in the service sparked his interest in aviation and later in life he would fly ultralights. Following his discharge in 1967, he returned to South Dakota and worked as an auto mechanic at Lodmell Ford, and later started John’s Auto Service in Dell Rapids and later at his place west of Dell Rapids. He married Susan Monger in 1969.

Survivors include his children: Jill Hegge, Dell Rapids, Brian Hegge, Dell Rapids, Adam Hegge, Sioux Falls; grandchildren: Easton Kluever, Andrew Hegge, Alex Viereck, and Jasmine Hegge; siblings: Jess (Sharon) Hegge, Dell Rapids, Ron (Marge) Hegge, Renner, Gloria Berndt, Woodbury, MN, Pat Perley, Longmont, CO, and Arlyce Oien, Sioux Falls. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Cynthia Threvithick; and infant brother, Jerome.