Obituary: Byron Denke

Memorial Service

Funeral services will take place on Friday, September 10, 2021 at 10:00 AM (Mountain).

First Lutheran Church
Wall, South Dakota

Interment

Private family interment with military honors:
Elm Springs Cemetery
Elm Springs, South Dakota

Visitation

A memorial visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, September 9, 2021 at the Rush Funeral Chapel in Wall.

Print Obituary

In memory of

Byron Denke

of Philip, South Dakota, died on Monday, September 6, 2021 at his home in Philip at the age of 77

Byron Myron Denke, 77, was born in Quinn, South Dakota to Reinhold and Rose (Helms) Denke. He joined eight older siblings on the family farm and was later joined by his younger brother, Linden. Many of Byron’s memories from growing up included adventures and field work alongside his brothers.

Byron attended grade school at Big White School, a one-room school located miles from the family farm. Byron was a long time member of 4-H, which he passed on to his children. He attended two years of high school in Quinn before quitting school to be a ranch hand. He decided to return to school after two years where he then graduated high school from Wall High School in 1964 alongside his future brother-in-laws: Larry and Jerry Gravatt.

Byron joined the Army and spent time stationed in Washington D.C. and oversees in Turkey. While in Turkey, he ate so much watermelon that up to his last days, he would rarely eat it. He was discharged in 1968 at which time he came back to his home area and started work as a ranch hand again.

Byron started working for Mary Ann Wilson and met the love of his life, Cherry Gravatt, who also was living in Elm Springs at the time. They were married June 5, 1970, and continued working for Mary Ann for another two years.

In 1972 they moved and worked for Zeta White on her ranch near Buffalo, South Dakota.

In 1974 they purchased Byron’s parents family farm and ranch. They continued to live there until 2019 when they moved to Philip, South Dakota due to Cherry’s health issues.

Byron was a lifetime member of First Lutheran Church where he served in different roles throughout the years. Byron’s faith was a source of comfort for him and his church family was very important to him.

Byron’s greatest pride were his two children, Monte, born in 1983 and Stacey, born in 1985. Byron took joy in the story that his children attended the same school, Big White, as he had. He always made sure his kids and their friends had a large snow pile every winter to play on in the school yard. Byron and Cherry were 4-H leaders and as a family they all enjoyed many 4-H activities together.

Bryon worked tirelessly, along with Cherry, through their farming and ranching years. Some of his happiest memories were attending bull sales for his top notch Angus herd. Second only to his family, was his pride of watching his calves run through the sale barn ring every fall. Often, along with neighbors Dennis Sieler and Jim Johnson, they would work together to get harvests in. He was always happiest when he was working.

Byron is survived by his children, son Monte of Quinn and daughter, Stacey of Rapid City. A nephew, Robin of Rapid City, whom he and Cherry helped raise. One brother, Marvin Denke, of Philip. one sister in laws, Delores Denke of Pavillion WY. Three brother in laws, Larry (Peggy) Gravatt of Elm Springs, Jerry (Alyn) Gravatt and Barry (Val) Gravatt both of Rapid City, and many other nieces, nephews and cousins.

Byron was proceeded in death by his wife of 51 years, Cherry who passed away on July 19, 2021. His parents, Reinhold and Rose Denke, two sisters - Gay Logan, Loretta Brendlinger and Cerella Overgard, six brothers - Richard, Herman, Donald, Leland, Wesley and Linden and several other extended family members.

A memorial visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. Thursday, September 9, 2021 at the Rush Funeral Chapel in Wall.

Memorial services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Friday, September 10, at First Lutheran Church in Wall with Pastor Christopher McCarthy officiating.

Private family interment with military honors will be held at the Elm Springs Cemetery.

Cards and memorials may be sent to 3113 Tomahawk Dr. Rapid City, SD 57702.

Open the Memorial Folder

MEMORIAL VISITATION
Thursday, September 9, 2021 - 5-7 p.m.
Rush Funeral Chapel
Wall, South Dakota

MEMORIAL SERVICE
Friday, September 10, 2021 - 10:00 a.m.
First Lutheran Church
Wall, South Dakota

CLERGY
Pastor Christopher McCarthy

MUSIC
Mary Kay Wilson - Organist
Congregational Hymns
“He’s Risen, He’s Risen”
“Sing, My Tongue the Glorious Battle”
“Abide With Me”
Paige Cordes - Vocalist
“Amazing Grace”
“This Light of Mine”

USHERS
Michael Sieler - Philip Wilson

HONORARY PALLBEARERS
All Relatives and Friends in Attendance

PRIVATE FAMILY INTERMENT
WITH MILITARY HONORS
Elm Springs Cemetery
Elm Springs, South Dakota

Sign the guestbook

Our thoughts and prayers are with your family. May God help you through this difficult time. So glad to have gotten to meet your Dad when he came to visit his brother Marvin at Silverleaf. Your parents are safe and together in Heaven now. ~ Julie McLaughlin Midland, SD (9/10/2021)
Monte and Stacy. So sorry to hear about Byron. So many wonderful memories of growing up,attending the bug White, all the 4-H activities and just being neighbors. May his memory be a blessing. Sending prayers and hugs from the Sinykin family. ~ Diane Sinykin-Small AZ (9/10/2021)
Monte and Stacy. My prayers and thoughts are with you two. Your parents were so special to me and they will be missed by so many people. They loved you two so much and were very proud ~ Lea Willuweit Ymker Armour SD (9/9/2021)
Monte and Stacey,
My Deepest Sympathy. Keeping both of you in my thoughts and prayers. Sending you both hugs. ~ Fawna (Geigle) Goff Sturgis, SD (9/8/2021)
We will keep you Monte and Stacey in our thoughts as you grieve again, so very sorry to hear about Uncle Byron. Love to you both. ~ Beth & Art Brendlinger Freeport PA (9/8/2021)
Our thoughts and prayers are with your family. ~ Darwin and Betty Haerer Wall sd (9/8/2021)
Our thoughts and prayers are with you, Rest in Peace Byron. ~ Dale & Penny Baumann Quinn, SD (9/8/2021)
Prayers to the kids and family. My boys liked going to his farm to see the barns they were learning to paint in art class. Loved seeing family when were home at church in Wall. Hugs and love, Paul and Lurene Denke and Isaac and Luke Denke. ~ Paul S. Denke Pierre (9/8/2021)
So sorry to hear about Byron, he will be missed. We got to know Byron through his brother Marvin, who is good friends with Les. We all know that he is with Cherry in heaven. Hold on to all the memories. ~ Les & Joann Pearson Philip, SD (9/7/2021)
Monty and Stacy, I don't know where to begin. Byron had such an impact on my life as well as my mother and my siblings. We sat together in church for many years and always had such good visits on the phone or over coffee. He was such a great person and I know will be missed by myself and the whole area. ~ Philip & Mary Kay Wilson Elm Springs (9/7/2021)