Denis Feilmeier

Denis Feilmeier, age 93, of Yankton, South Dakota died on Tuesday, April 8, 2025 at Avera Sister James Care Center in Yankton.

Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:30 AM, on Monday, April 14, 2025 at St. Benedict Catholic Church in Yankton with Reverend Thi Pham officiating. Burial will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery in Yankton. The family will receive friends one hour prior to the Mass at the church. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Yankton.

Pallbearers are his grandsons. Honorary pallbearers are his granddaughters and great grandchildren.

Denis Leon Feilmeier was born November 23, 1931 in a farm house near Hartington, Nebraska to Henry and Dorothy (Hochstein) Feilmeier. He attended District #13 Country School north of Bow Valley, NE and graduated from Holy Trinity High School in Hartington in 1949. On May 19, 1952, Denis married Dolores Pautler at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Hartington. They farmed several area farms for seven years and in 1959, they purchased a farm west of Yankton. Denis also did custom farm work for many area farmers. Farming was his life’s work. Denis was active in various county organizations, including National Farmers Organization, Soil Conservation Service, Agriculture Conservation Service, Farmer’s Union, Yankton Antique Auto Association, and Tri-State Old Iron Association. He served as Yankton County Commissioner for four years and served as a director for the Bon Homme/Yankton REA for 30 years. Denis became a life member of the Knights of Columbus when he was 18 years old and was devoted member of St. Benedict Catholic Church in Yankton. Denis enjoyed dancing, playing cards and making various items out of iron and wood including replicating each of his children’s homes. He loved attending his children’s and grandchildren’s activities and just loved visiting with people.

Denis is survived by his wife, Dolores Feilmeier of Yankton; five children: Alan (Connie) Feilmeier of Yankton, Denise Wubben of Yankton, Daryl (Beth) Feilmeier of Sioux Falls, SD, Michael (Wendy) Feilmeier of Yankton and Jeanne (Jeff) Veire of Sioux Falls, SD; 13 grandchildren; 28 great grandchildren; brother, Don (Charlotte) Feilmeier of Hartington, NE; sister, Anita Potts of Yankton; brother-in-law, Willie Duran of Greeley, CO and many, many nieces and nephews.

Denis was preceded in death by his parents; son-in-law, Daniel Devine; infant grandson, Nicholas Feilmeier; two sisters, Ethel Duran and Charleen Kube; and two brothers-in-law, Robert Potts and Kenneth Kube.

Memorials may be directed to the Yankton Radio Rosary Fund at 509 Capitol Street in Yankton or the House of Mary Shrine at PO Box 455 in Yankton.