Dustin William Larsen

Dustin William Larsen, age 50, of Yankton, South Dakota, went home to be with his Lord on Tuesday, December 3, 2024.

Visitation will begin at 9:00 AM on Saturday, December 7, 2024, at Riverview Reformed Church in Yankton. The funeral service will follow at 10:30 AM with Reverend Jacob Van Der Linden officiating. The funeral will be live streamed and can be viewed at www.facebook.com/WintzRay. Graveside service will follow at the Yankton Cemetery. Arrangements are under the direction of the Wintz & Ray Funeral Home in Yankton, South Dakota.

Pallbearers will include the following: Darin Larsen, David Larsen, Roger Adam, Marcus Adam, Michael Lewin, and Gary Vornhagen. Honorary pallbearers will be nieces and nephews: Timothy Larsen, Katie Larsen, Sarah Larsen, Angela Larsen, Aiden Larsen, Owen Larsen, Halie Munter and Peyton Lewin.

Dustin William Larsen was born on December 13, 1973, in Yankton, South Dakota, to Roger and Betty (Jensen) Larsen. He grew up in Yankton and graduated from Yankton High School in 1992. He then went on to receive his Bachelors of Science in Biology from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. He married his high school sweetheart, Rochelle “Shelly” Slagle, on May 18, 2001, in Yankton. They lived in Yankton where Dustin worked various jobs including construction and a Game, Fish, and Parks ranger. In 2006, they moved to Pierre, South Dakota, and Dustin began working for the Department of Health in the Office of Health Protection. They came back to Yankton in 2011 where Dustin worked briefly for the Department of Labor. Finally, he returned to the Department of Health where, after earning his Registered Sanitarian credentials, he was promoted to Senior Health Advisor.

Dustin was a man of God, unwavering in his convictions and standards. He was loyal to those he loved and generous to anyone who needed help. He had a great sense of humor and loved scaring people and playing pranks. He and Shelly dedicated much time to home improvement projects and yard work. He was an incredibly talented woodworker and spent many hours in his workshop creating one-of-a-kind gifts. Dustin and Shelly spent most of their free time together, and they enjoyed camping, kayaking, and exploring the Black Hills. Mostly, they enjoyed a simple night at home in each other’s company. He was easily persuaded to engage in impromptu plans and good conversation with family and friends.

Survivors include his beloved wife and best friend, Shelly Larsen of Yankton; their devoted furry girl, Lilly; parents, Roger and Betty Larsen of Yankton; two brothers: Darin (Sandra) Larsen of Omaha, Nebraska, and David Larsen of Grand Rapids, Michigan; father-in-law, Allen (Larris) Slagle of Cleburne, Texas; sisters-in-law: Tammi (Roger) Adam of Yankton and Charesh (Mike) Lewin of Merrill, Iowa; brother-in-law, Ken (Tabitha Harris) Selvia of Yankton; and nine nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his grandparents: Maynard and Vera Larsen and Tinus and Margery Jensen; mother-in-law, Marie Kocourek; and infant brother.