Daniel Dean Lape
September 18, 1960 ~ June 8, 2025
Daniel Dean “Donkey” Lape passed away Sunday, June 8, 2025, doing what he loved, working on his cars.
Visitation will be Monday, June 16, 2025, at 5pm with a short service at 6:30pm, at Heartland Funeral Home. Private Burial will be held Tuesday, June 17, 2025.
Dan was born September 18, 1960, in Valley Springs, SD, to Lawrence “Larry” and Kathy “Katie” (Swanson) Lape. Donkey spent his whole life in Valley Springs. He attended Valley Springs Elementary School and occasionally made an appearance at Brandon Valley High School until he had had enough. He later earned his GED.
Dan married Kari Reu and to this union Cody Lawrence Lape was born in 1992.
Dan worked various jobs throughout his life, some of which were Luverne Truck, Asco, City of Valley Springs, Lunstra Farms, and Jeremy Scadden construction until his health and neuropathy took a toll and he could no longer work.
Over the years he had many pets that he cherished. Nummy the chicken, Mike the rabbit, Kid the dog, and his most beloved cats – Kitty (N Stuff) and Al (Albuquerque, Albow, Al Capone, and anything else that started with Al).
Donkey’s true passions were working on cars, ice racing, doing wheelies, tinkering in his garage, and helping anyone he could if he was able.
In 2019, Dan met Roberta “Bob” Hindberg who, several years later, became the love of his life and fiancée. To think it all started because “she hooked me up on her Pandora account” so that he could have his rock concerts in the house at a very respectable volume, of course.
One of Dan’s most proud achievements was of he and Bob were able to care for his dad, in Larry’s final weeks, so that he could be in his own home.
Danny is survived by his fiancée Roberta “Bob” Hindberg; Cody Lape; sister, Alison (Paul) Leuning; Bob’s children, Kimberlee (Nate) Hindberg, Hayden Hindberg, Emmalee Hindberg; and Bob’s mom, Sylvia Bebo; as well as countless friends that were more like brothers.
Danny was preceded in death by his parents, Larry and Katie Lape; grandparents, Tim and Viola Lape and Howard and Dorothy Swanson; his cousin, Owen Swanson; and in his words “too damn many friends. Way too soon!”
Do a Wheelie!
Sorry to for your loss. I just spoke to him a about 3 weeks ago at the Red Rock in Rowena.
Now I got to a do a wheelie in his honor.