Matthew Dalton Doese

Matthew Dalton Doese was born on August 29, 1958 to Robert Doese and Fern Ellen Thompson Doese in Sioux Falls.  Matt died November 30, 2018 at Avera McKennan Hospital surrounded by family after a battle with esophageal cancer complicated by MS.

In youth, Matt was active in Boy Scouts at OSLC, and attended what he called “two tours of duty” in Philmont, NM.  He competed in YMCA swim team and was a member of Civil Air Patrol. Matthew, always fascinated with how things worked, would routinely take apart an alarm clock, or other gadget, lay out the parts, then reassemble it. Matt graduated from Washington SHS in 1976 where he had been the photographer for the student paper.  He continued this hobby and converted a basement closet into a darkroom.

Matthew worked for UPS, then for Cycle Empire, where he was a motorcycle mechanic.  This vocation combined his love of taking things apart with his love of motorcycles. Matt enjoyed attending motorcycle rallys in Daytona.  He also traveled often to national parks, where he loved to camp, hike, and appreciate nature’s beauty.  His favorite park was Yosemite, where he hoped to retire to “roamin’ Wyomin’ “as a park docent.  Matt also loved animals, especially his last pet, a kitten he had fed with an eye dropper after finding it in a ditch huddled next to it’s dead mother.

Matthew was disabled by symptoms of MS in 1998.  His quality of life was greatly improved by his days spent at Avera Wellness Center.

Matthew will be lovingly remembered by his parents:  Robert and Fern Ellen Doese; brother: Todd (Amy) Doese; sister: Erin James; and nieces, nephews and their families: John Doese (Katie Day), Meghan Doese (Joseph Jenkins), Avianna and Anneiva Jenkins, Rachel Doese (Wesley Adams), Leo and Octavia Adams, Jennifer Doese, Tykel Doese; Sarah Kocz (Tad Dreis), Ari Freilich, Tamara (Derek) Rodenbeck, Naya Rodenbeck, Leah Freilich, and Joshua Freilich.

Memorial services were held 11:00 AM Wednesday, December 5, 2018 at Our Saviors Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls.  Burial was in the Zion Lutheran Cemetery, Garretson.

Minnehaha Funeral Home, Garretson was in charge of arrangements.