Donald Henle

Donald Henry Henle was born on October 5, 1937 in Beresfrod, SD, to Henry and Ida (Hongolo) Henle. He was born in the back room at his parents gas station. He graduated from Beresford High School in 1955. While in school, he worked at Ryger Produce where Don said he thought he got a better education than in high school because of the people he worked with and dealing with the customers. Don joined the US Navy on October 9, 1956. He spent most of his first enlistment on a ship with a home port in Hawaii. Don would say its a good place to visit, but didnt care to be stationed there. April 22, 1961 was the greatest day of his life when he married Donna Benson. They were stationed in the East and West coasts of the United States while Don was in the Navy. Don served two tours of duty in Vietnam and during the Cuban Missile Crisis. He served on seven different ships: USS Harveson, USS Cacapon, USS Teaberry, UsSS Bristol, Persisten, USS Bronson and USNS Mispillion. After 20 years in the Navy, Don went to business school for a year and then went to work at Pay & Pak for a year. He then was a dispatcher for Barber Transportation for six years and then for Nordica Wholesale for fifteen years until her retired. He was an avid Cubs Fan and so excited when they won the World Series. Don loved Donna and taking trips, driving the back roads for a couple of weeks at a time. He was always happy when the family was together. He enjoyed visiting and watching the Andy Griffith Show. Don enjoyed horse racing and taught his family how pick the horses and looked forward to the trips to Canterbury Park. Don was the best husband, dad, papa and friend in the whole world. We were very lucky to have Don as our father. Thank you for sharing his life. Don passed away at his home, surrounded by family, on March 18, 2017 at the age of 79.Grateful having shared in his life is his wife, Donna; two daughters, Kim (Dave) Henle Jewell of Chester, SD and Paige (Charlie) Larson of Sioux Falls; a son, Todd Henle of Sioux Falls; grandchildren, Travis, Tyler (Amy), Tanner (Cayla), Samantha, Parker, Ashton, Candace (Josh), Matt, Michelle, Lydia, Michael and Katie; great grandchildren, Grace, Quentin, Malia, Jaedyn, Bailey and Bryce; sisters, Mary Ellen Hustrulid of Beresford, JoAnn English of Omaha, NE; sister-in-law, Kay Henle of Sioux Falls; and many nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his parents; mother-in-law, Hazel Benson; grandson, Brandon; brothers, Bill and Ray; sisters and their spouses, Gerry (Cherlan) Coffman and Lucille (Lyle) Zimmerman; brothers-in-law, Vernon Hustrulid, Dal English; and nephews, Doug Hustrulid, Kevin Zimmerman and Greg Coffman. Memorial may be directed to the Salvation Army. Visitation Monday from 3-7 pm with family present 5-7 pm. Funeral 10:30 am Tuesday at First Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls.