Dale Dunker

Services for Dale Dunker, 86, of Groton will be 11:00 am, Monday, November 24th at St. John's Lutheran Church, Groton. Rev. Craig Grams will officiate. Burial will follow in Sunset Memorial Gardens, Aberdeen under the direction of Paetznick-Garness Funeral Chapel, Groton. www.paetznick-garness.com Military Honors will be provided by the Groton American Legion Post #39.

Visitation will be held at the church on Sunday from 4-8 pm with a prayer service at 7:00 pm. Visitation will continue for one hour prior to services on Monday.

Dale passed away November 19, 2008 at Avera St. Luke's Hospital, Aberdeen.

Dale Albert Dunker was born on April 22, 1922 in Stratford to Edward and Eva (Carter) Dunker. He attended rural school, and graduated from Groton High School. Dale united in marriage with Marjorie Shilman on October 6, 1944 at Highland Church, rural Aberdeen. He then farmed for a brief period before being called into the United States Navy in June of 1945. He served until April of 1946, when he was honorably discharged. Dale returned home and farmed near Verdon. In December of 1980, the couple moved into Groton and Dale remained active on the farm until 1986.

Dale was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church in Groton. In earlier years, they belonged to West Hanson and St. Paul's Lutheran Church, where Dale had been active on the church council. He belonged to the Stratford American Legion and later transferred to Groton Legion Post #39. Dale served as a county committeeman for the ASCS. He also served on the Garden Prairie Township Board, the Groton City Council, and the South Dakota Poultry Association. He enjoyed playing a good game of cards, visiting, and helping any way he could on the farm.

Grateful for having shared in his life is his wife, Marjorie, six children, Jacquelyn (Lewis) Hammond of Sioux Falls, Sandra (Richard) Strom of Groton, Nancy Larsen of Groton, Steven (Betty) Dunker of Groton, Susan (Terry) Ellingson of Aberdeen, Douglas (Denice) Dunker of Herriman, Utah; twelve grandchildren, Brad Hammond, Brooke (Ryan) Kappenman, Rich (Mary) Strom, Terri (Brian) Schuring, Joey (Josh) Schilling, Jennifer (Jeff) Keimig, Lance Larsen, Craig (Tasha) Dunker, Darcy Dunker, Scott (Jamie) Ellingson, Ryan Ellingson, and Chad Ellingson; fourteen great grandchildren, Matt, Michael, Jakob, and Sara Strom, Morgan, Alexa and Sean Schuring, Finley and Frank Malakai "Kai" Schilling, Colby and Rylee Dunker, Landon Dunker, Aubrey and Brady Ellingson. Dale is also survived by his brother Wallace (Betty) Dunker of Aberdeen, two sisters, Inez Knickrehm of Groton, Mildred Williams of Sioux Falls, and longtime Navy buddy, Ellis Johnson of North Branch, Minnesota.

Preceding him in death were his parents, two sisters, Hazel Sager and Evelyn Borge Clausen, and one brother, Raymond Dunker.

Honorary Casketbearers will be all of Dale's Grandchildren and Great Grandchildren.

Casketbearers will be Lance Larsen, Craig Dunker, Scott Ellingson, Ryan Ellingson, Chad Ellingson, Jeff Keimig, Tom Tietz, and Ralph Borge.