Donald Letcher
Donald Dewayne Letcher, 74, died Sunday, Oct. 20, 2019, at the Sioux Falls VA Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
He will be cremated with no services at this time. A celebration of life will be in the summer of 2020.
Donald Letcher was born April 18, 1945, to Everett and Viola (Cummings) Letcher in Worthington. He grew up in Sioux Falls. He joined the U.S. Navy and served during the Vietnam War. He was a deckhand/signalman on the USS John R. Craig DD-885. His bravery earned him a Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and the National Defense Service Medal with two bronze stars. He was honorably discharged from the Navy in 1967. Donald served in the Naval reserve until 1969. Following his time in active service, Donald attended Southeast Vocational School in Sioux Falls and graduated as a mechanic.
Donald married Alvina (VanBeek) Tiedeman on Aug. 24, 1974. She had three daughters, Melissa, Loretta and Suzanna. He had one daughter, Jolynn. Together Don and Alvina had three daughters, Tonya, Trista and Sheila.
Donald is survived by his wife, Alvina Letcher; his children Melissa (Randy) Culbertson, Berthoud, Colorado, Jolynn (Steve) Clark, Piedmont, South Dakota, Loretta (Zeke) Pacella, Windsor, Colorado, Suzanna (Scott) Sliski, Fort Collins, Colorado, Tonya (Tim) Allen, Hardwick, Trista (Brad) Lane, Meridian, Idaho, and Sheila Letcher, Loveland, Colorado; 20 grandchildren, six great-grandchildren; a sister, Patricia (Don) LaFrenz, Luverne; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his stepmother, Vera Letcher; a great-grandson, Nick Parra; sisters Elaine (Ivan) Else, Delorus (James) Anderson and Carol (Norm) Olson; and brothers Noelan, Lester and James Letcher.
Arrangements were provided by Dingmann Funeral Home of Luverne, dingmannandsons.com.
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