Darrel Fliehs

Services for Darrel Fliehs, 66, of Groton will be 11:00 a.m., Thursday, August 23rd at St. John's Lutheran Church, Groton. Rev. Craig Grams will officiate. Burial with military honors will follow in Union Cemetery under the direction of Paetznick-Garness Funeral Chapel, Groton.

Visitation will be held at the church on Wednesday from 4-8 pm with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. The family will be present from 6-8 pm.

Darrel passed away August 19, 2012 at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls.

Darrel M. Fliehs was born on February 1, 1946 in Aberdeen to Richard and Hilda (Janhke) Fliehs. He attended school in Groton, graduating in 1964. On November 27, 1965 he united in marriage with Mary Seurer at St. John's Lutheran Church, Groton. Darrel was then drafted into the US Army in February of 1966. After his honorable discharge, he returned to Groton and worked for Harvey Fliehs. He later was employed at Farmland Industries in Aberdeen. When they closed, he began working for Dick Seurer, as a carpenter. One of their building projects was for High Grade Oil Company. When the building was complete, Darrel became the station manager. He purchased the station in 1984 and renamed the business Darrel's Sinclair. The property was sold in November of 2004 and the building and the business were later moved to the farm.

Darrel was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church. He also belonged to the American Legion Post #39 and served many years on the color guard. Darrel enjoyed hunting, fishing, gardening and spending time with his family and grandchildren.

Darrel loved to be around people. Filling his work days visiting with friends, employees, and customers was what made each day special. Darrel had a wonderful sense of humor and making people laugh and smile was who he was. His family was most important to him. The pride and love he had for his children and grandchildren could not be measured. Darrel will truly be missed by all those who loved him.

Celebrating his life is his wife of 46 years, his children, Rich (Heather) Fliehs of Groton; Becky (Eric) Larson of Mitchell; two grandchildren, Connor and Lauren; his mother, Hilda Sippel and his siblings, Harvey (Bernice) Fliehs of Groton; Dick (Judy) Fliehs of Groton; Duane (Rhonda) Fliehs of Groton; Dale and friend Claire Frohling of Groton; Doris (Carlmon) Briggs of Arizona; Diane Hickenbotham of Aberdeen and Sharon (Mike) Dell of Rapid City.

Preceding him in death was his father, Richard, his step-father, Lester Sippel and three sisters, Irene Fliehs, Betty Ann Fliehs and Arvilla Goss.

Honorary Casketbearers are all of his extended family and his friends who shared his love of the outdoors and participated in those activities with him.

Casketbearers will be Bill Schuelke, Bob Wegner, Craig Weber, Austin Schuelke, Butch Farmen, Jake McKiver, Doug Sippel and Jim Jones.

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