95
Egan, SD
May 22, 2024
Henry Francis Burggraff of Egan, SD, passed away on May 22, 2024. He was born on July 24, 1928, to Albert and Mary (Siemonsma) Burggraff, in Hartford, SD. He received his education in Hartford. He had a welding shop in Colton, SD until joining the army in 1950. He spent 4 months in Camp Atterbury, Indiana, where he received a Sharpshooter Badge, and 20 months in Fort Benning, Georgia. After his discharge he returned home to Hartford. He met Dolores Marie Penning at the Arkota Ballroom in Sioux Falls. They danced their way through courtship and married on June 2, 1954, in a double ring ceremony with Henry’s brother Joseph and Dolores’ sister Alice. But he wanted to farm. So, they moved to a farmstead in Ward, SD, for a couple of years. As Dolores told the story, he would stand outside and watch it rain down by Egan, so they packed up and moved to Egan in 1959. His brother-in-law, Don Elverud, helped him with getting started the first few years.
Henry’s skills were known to many neighbors. When electricity was brought in, he spent many days wiring farms and homes. Neighbors would bring their broken equipment to him also, as they knew he was a fantastic welder. He had a skill for fixing anything and that has been passed down to his children and grandchildren. Henry’s non-farming activities included serving several years on the Trent Swimming Pool Board, the Moody County Ambulance Board, the Grovena Township Board of Supervisors and Old Time Dancing. Henry and Dolores attended many old-time music dances, taking each of their children with them to ensure their kids knew how to dance! He also never missed a chance to rock and feed his grand and great grand babies. One would always see him with a baby in his arms. They were the sparkle in his eyes!
Henry is survived by his and Dolores’ eight children: Marilyn (Kalvin) Mead, Shelton, NE; Frank (Lynda), Egan, SD; Lonnelle (Keith) Rasmussen, Newman Grove, NE; Wayne (Sandy), Volga, SD; Lloyd (Lori), Union, NE; Karon (John) Tassava, West Fargo, ND; Gordon, Egan, SD; and Glenn (Jackie), Egan, SD; 21 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren; three siblings Dolores (Donald) Elverud, Flandreau, SD, Bernard (Vera) Burggraff, Hartford, SD and Lorraine Schmidt, Dell Rapids, SD. Henry was preceded in death by his wife, Dolores (2016), his parents, two brothers, Joseph and Aloysius, and two sisters in infancy, Dolores and Mary Ann.
Mass of Christian Burial was Tuesday, May 28, 2024 at 10:30 am at Ss. Simon and Jude Catholic Church with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation was from 5:00-7:00 pm Monday, May 27, 2024 at Skroch Funeral Chapel with a 7:00 pm Rosary. Memorials may be directed to the Flandreau Breadbasket or Bishop Dudley House.