Donald H. Luke

Don Luke, 76, died Sunday, September 21, 2008 at the Avera Heart Hospital, Sioux Falls. Funeral mass will be 10:30am Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at St. Christina’s Catholic Church, Parker with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from noon-5:00pm Tuesday at Hofmeister-Jones Funeral Home, Parker with a Scripture Service/Rosary to be said at 7:00pm Tuesday evening at the church. In lieu of flowers memorials may be made to St. Christina’s. Donald Hubert Luke was born on February 28, 1932 at Marion, SD to August and Mary (Neis) Luke. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Marion. He attended District 12 country school in rural Marion. On October 14, 1961 he was united in marriage to Berdell Ihnen in Marion. They were blessed with two children, Lisa and Jason. Don worked for the Luke Brothers, for W.W. Brady of Marion for 3 years, Turner County Highway Department for 4 years, and Terminal Grain in Parker until his retirement in 1994. Don enjoyed numerous part-time jobs after his retirement. He was a member of St. Christina’s Catholic Church, Senior Citizens, and an honorary member of the Parker Fire Department. His catholic faith was a large part of his life and he was very active in many areas of the church. Throughout his life he enjoyed camping, fishing, playing guitar and singing, helping his brother farming, attending the many sporting activities of the kids and grand-kids, and especially spending time with his family and friends. Grateful for having shared his life are his wife Berdell; his daughter Lisa, Parker; son Jason and wife Connie, Freeman; 3 grandchildren, Jason and wife Justice Mehlhaff, Freeman, Brian Mehlhaff, Kaylor, and Tiffany Mehlhaff, Brookings; 2 great granddaughters, Darrica and Jayda; 7 brothers, John and Paul, Marion, Jerome, Mott, ND, Joe, Dell Rapids, Bill, Clark, Ray, Sioux Falls, and Mike, Hartford; 7 sisters, Mary Kelsch, Clarion, IA, Donna Miller, Mott, ND, Marlene Weber, Omaha, Ne, Margaret Schrader, Huron, Bernice Kreis and Christine Sarnowski, Blair, NE, and Veronica Narsavage, Moscow, PA. He was preceded in death by his parents and step-mom.