Dennis Lee Sterk

October 16, 1954 ~ October 30, 2023

Dennis Sterk, 69, of Brandon, SD, passed away on Monday, October 30, 2023, at Avera McKennan Hospital.

A Memorial Service will be held Monday, November 6, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at Wesley United Methodist Church (1700 E 6th Street, Sioux Falls, SD 57103).

Dennis Lee Sterk was born to Peter and Marie (Muilenburg) Sterk on October 16, 1954, in Platte, SD. He graduated from Platte High School in 1972, and then moved to Kansas shortly after to work with his brother-in-law, Delbert, moving and setting up mobile homes. He then moved to Sioux Falls where he met Goldie Trautman, and they were married on May 1, 1976, at Wesley United Methodist Church, and in 1979, they had a son, Greg. Dennis worked for the City of Sioux Falls Street Department. Later he worked for Black Top Paving for 20 years. After that, he worked at Sweetman’s Construction (Knife River) until his retirement. After his retirement, he developed throat cancer which he battled for three years before being declared cancer-free. At that time, he was diagnosed with dementia.

Dennis loved the outdoors and his farm. He loved camping, hunting, fishing, downhill snow skiing, riding his Harley Davidson, and most of all, farming his acreage. When he wasn’t doing farm work, he was busy building multiple farm buildings himself.

Dennis would give the grandkids and Greg rides in the tractor bucket and loved campfires with the family. He loved teasing his daughter-in-law and grandchildren and even after getting dementia, he still loved teasing back and forth with Ash, who loved teasing back.

Dennis loved working on crafts with Goldie, including their “bear trap” and helping to make their house into a home. They always had pets in the home and after moving to the farm, they would adopt kittens that would show up. Two very special animals to Dennis were his dog, Jack, and his kitty, Sox.

Dennis is survived by his wife, Goldie Sterk, Brandon; one son, Greg (April) Sterk, Pierre; grandchildren, Alex Woolley, Sioux Falls, Lucas Sterk, Pierre, and Ashley “Denzel” Sterk, Pierre; sisters, Wilma Liestra, Lawrence, KS, Jeanette Johnson, Platte, and Darlene Iedama, Platte; and one brother, Mervin (Patty) Sterk, Wentworth.

Dennis is preceded in death by father, Peter Sterk, and mother, Marie Sterk, Platte; sister, Heretta Leinan, Platte; brothers-in-law, Ron Leinan, Sacramento, CA, Dennis Iedama, Platte, Delbert Liestra, Lawrence, KS; and best friend, Earl Hirzel.

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