Dennis Fonder

Dennis Fonder, age 82, of Milbank, SD, passed away on Tuesday, February 24, 2026, at Peaceful Pines Senior Living.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Saturday, February 28, 2026, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Milbank. Visitation will be held on Friday, February 27, 2026, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at St. Lawrence Catholic Church with a prayer vigil and Rosary beginning at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the Mass at the church on Saturday. Fr. Tom Hartman will celebrate the Mass, and interment will be at St. Lawrence Cemetery in Milbank.

The service will be livestreamed and recorded and will be viewable at the bottom of this page.

Dennis Joseph Fonder was born on September 8, 1943, in Sisseton, SD, to Bernard and Catherine (Jurgens) Fonder. He was the beloved son of a faith-filled, hardworking farming family. At just three weeks old, his family relocated to Milbank, where he was raised on a farm northeast of the town.

Dennis received his early education at Melrose #9 School and continued his studies at St. Lawrence Catholic School, culminating in his graduation from Milbank High School with the Class of 1961. He began his career at the Valley Queen Cheese Factory, where he worked for nearly three years.

On October 13, 1962, Dennis married his high school sweetheart, Arlene Harriet Campbell at St. Lawrence Catholic Church in Milbank. God abundantly blessed Dennis and Arlene with 11 beautiful children.

In 1963, Dennis and Arlene relocated to a home near Big Stone City, SD, where they began farming. They lived there for seven fruitful years before relocating to a farmstead north of Milbank. In 1994, they moved a short distance from the dairy farm they had established. They built their retirement home, raising beef cattle and farming the land. Dennis dedicated much of his life to the betterment of agriculture, playing a pivotal role in establishing the first organic dairies in South Dakota.

Dennis was a deeply spiritual individual who found solace and inspiration in the quiet beauty of nature. He saw God's goodness each day whether he was out picking rocks or tinkering in his garden.

He felt the presence of God all around him, nurturing his soul and guiding his path. His reverence for the natural world and his commitment to sustainable farming practices serve as a testament to his character, embodying a profound appreciation for life’s simple pleasures.

Faith was always a constant presence in Dennis’s life. He was an active member of St. Lawrence Catholic Church, where he served on the parish council and contributed to the community. Always mindful of his God-given role of leader, provider and protector of family, Dennis cherished his years spent milking cows, working in the fields and teaching his children the value of hard, honest work. In retirement, gardening was his favorite hobby. He enjoyed sharing the bountiful produce with many of his friends, family, and neighbors.

Left to cherish Dennis’s memory are his wife of 63 years, Arlene; his children: Julie (Don) Vanderberg of Sioux Falls, SD; Richard (Helaine) Fonder of Milbank, SD; Linda (Brian) Ellis-Smith of Becker, MN; Bill (Janine) Fonder of Milbank, SD; John (Sandra) Fonder of Milbank, SD; Matt (Ann) Fonder of Milbank, SD; Jennifer (Doug) Meyer of Revillo, SD; Diane (Garrett) Senesac of St. Michael, MN; Suzanne (Robert) Thompson of Summerset, SD; and Mary Ellen (Marc) Joachim of Twin Brooks, SD; 44 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; along with many nieces and nephews.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Bernard and Catherine Fonder; son, Joseph Fonder; siblings: Marie Scott, Dale Fonder, and Jim Fonder; and son-in-law, Jeff Ellis.

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