Dale Wellnitz

Dale Wellnitz, age 64, of Milbank, died on June 14, 2018, at Milbank Area Hospital – Avera Health.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, June 18, 2018, at 1pm at American Lutheran Church in Milbank. Visitation will be Sunday, June 17, from 5 to 7pm at the Mundwiler Funeral Home in Milbank and will continue one hour prior to services on Monday. Pastor Melanie Reiners will officiate, and interment will be in Osceola Cemetery in Marvin, SD.

Dale Duane Wellnitz was born on September 24, 1953, in Milbank, SD, to Ralph and Allkie (Blum) Wellnitz. He was baptized at Bethlehem Lutheran Church and attended Alban #5 country school. As a child, he enjoyed swimming in the granite quarries around Milbank.

Over the years, Dale worked at the cheese factory, Annett Construction, and worked at the granite quarries for over 40 years. Dale enjoyed attending dirt track races, collecting shark teeth, bowling, loved Country Western music, doing jigsaw puzzles, and watching Westerns. He also enjoyed socializing with his friends and family and was always good for a smart comment or joke. Dale had a 1969 Pontiac GTO that he absolutely adored but he also had a love for his brand-new Ford F-150. Most of all, he was very proud of his loving wife, his boys and his grandchildren. Going fishing with them was one of his favorite activities.

Left to cherish his memory are his wife, Sandy Wellnitz of Milbank; children: Shawn (Jessica) Wellnitz of Milbank; Jason (Chely) Wellnitz of Milbank; Jeremy (Alaina) Wellnitz of Clark, SD; and Matthew (Heidi) Wellnitz of Milbank; step-children: Mike (Pam) Edison of Cottage Grove, MN; Dawn (Bryan) Coombs of Morgantown, WY; and Crystal (Brad) Crawford of Douglas, WY; 25 grandchildren; 1 great-grandchild; siblings: Richard (Marge) Wellnitz of Milbank; Donald (Carol) Wellnitz of Norwood-Young America, MN; Arnold (Sharon) Wellnitz of Milbank; Earl (Marlys) Wellnitz of Greely, CO; and Joyce (Floyd) Hermans of Milbank; uncle, Gene Wellnitz of Watertown, SD; along with many cousins, nieces, & nephews.

Preceding Dale in death are his parents; step-son, Rob Edison; and uncle, Harvey Wellnitz.