Edwin Cunningham

Services for Edwin Cunningham, 100, of Conde will be 2:00pm, Tuesday, April 29th at the United Methodist Church, Conde. Pastor Jan Price and Rev. John Hisel will officiate. Burial will follow in the Conde City Cemetery under the direction of Paetznick-Garness Funeral Chapel, Groton. www.paetznick-garness.com

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

Edwin C. Cunningham was born on September 27, 1907 to Clark and Maria (Smith) Cunningham in Conde. He lived with his mother and his sister Eunice, as his father had died before his birth. Edwin attended country school and later Conde High School. He then worked for several years before continuing his education at South Dakota State College in Brookings, where he graduated with an Agriculture Degree in 1929. Edwin returned to Conde to farm with his step-father for several years. He later worked for area farmers hauling grain. On April 21, 1935 he united in marriage with Margaret Claussen in Parkston, SD. The couple made their home on the family farm in Conde for over 45 years. During these years Edwin was supervisor to the Conde C.C.C. bin site for several years and also did land measuring and survey work for the Farm Program. Edwin was instrumental in visiting and soliciting member to start the James Valley Telephone Cooperative. In December of 1980, they moved into Conde. After Margaret's death in December of 1988, Edwin continued to live in Conde. He entered Sun Dial Manor in Bristol on January 26, 2005 and was a resident there until his death on April 22, 2008.

Edwin and Margaret enjoyed dancing. For many years, they were 4-H Leaders. Edwin had been active in the Conde Community, serving as Township Treasurer; County Commissioner, and Director of the Conde Civic Development Association. He had also served on the Conde Cemetery and Housing Associations. Edwin was an avid sportsman and enjoyed hunting and fishing. For nineteen years, he guided out-of-state hunters during pheasant season.

Grateful for having shared in his life are his children; Alice (George) Bartell of Webster, Jim (Sue) Cunningham of Goldsboro, North Carolina, one half-brother, Maurice Ruch of Minneapolis, Minnesota, nine grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren.

Preceding him in death were his parents, his wife, one sister, two half-sisters, one half-brother, two grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

Honorary Casketbearers will be all of his grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Casketbearers will be Allen Bartell, Michael Bartell, James Cunningham, II, Matthew DeBow, Merrill Olson, Rick Swim, Russell Larson, and LaDell Sattler.

Memorials may be directed to the Conde Cemetery Association, c/o Curtis Haskell, 15239 SD Hwy 37, Conde, SD 57434 or to Sun Dial Manor Walking Trail, PO Box 337 Bristol, SD 57219.