Maureen Dinter

Maureen Ann Farrell Dinter, age 93, of Milbank, SD, passed away on December 20, 2022, in Aventara Assisted Living Home Memory Care after a relentless struggle with Alzheimer’s disease. Mundwiler Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements and funeral services will be at a later date.  There will be a private burial in the family cemetery at the farm.

Maureen was born to William “Colonel” Farrell and Berniece (Finnegan) Farrell on November 14, 1929, in a house near Clear Lake, SD, in Tunerville, SD, known for the famed Prairie Moon Ballroom. After graduating high school, on a brief trip with her girlfriends to southern California, Maureen met Bill, her future husband who was in the U. S. Navy. They were married in 1949. Apart from living in Washington, D.C. and Boston, MA, where Bill was stationed, Maureen has lived all her life in Milbank.

They purchased a farm north of town. Her hobbies included gardening, sewing, wallpapering, canning, traveling to visit family, and as a notorious “Red Hatter” of the Red Hat Society. After many years of living on the farm, Maureen later moved to town, purchasing a house in Milbank. A member of St. Lawrence church, she was active in Catholic Daughters.

Her wit and friendliness made her popular with all who knew her. Maureen was well-liked by the voters of Grant County, too. Elected as Grant County Treasurer, she saw an unopposed 25-year term. While at home in the mornings, she could be heard yelling up the stairs, “up, up, up!” to wake everyone for breakfast and catch the school bus in time. Still fondly remembered today, her children learned she was not someone to be ignored. She was the “Field Marshall” for any family event, be it the 4th of July family parade or son Richard’s 25th wedding anniversary. At her grandchildren’s weddings, she was always the last to leave the dance floor.

Part of a selfless generation, her wisdom, practical sensibilities, good humor, kindness, and optimism will be remembered and missed. Maureen is the last of the Farrell-Finnegan clan who included sisters Avis Mohler, Marlene “Dolly” Bury, and brother Jim Farrell. Others preceding her in death were mother Berniece (1941), father William “Colonel” Farrell (1976), stepmother Marie Dornbusch (1977), son Timothy (2011) and husband Bill (2013).

Left to cherish her memory are children: Richard (Colleen) Dinter of Hibbing, MN; Renae Dinter Hulbert of Milbank, SD; Dale Dinter of Guerneville, CA; and David (Heidi) Dinter of Gurnee, IL; daughter-in-law, Ginger Hermans Dinter of Wenatchee, WA; grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.

The Dinter family wants to thank all at Aventara Assisted Living Home Memory Care.