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The Rev. Allen Lewis
Sioux Falls - The Reverend Allen L. Lewis, 77, of Sioux Falls, SD passed away on Monday, April 29, 2019 at Avera McKennan Hospital.
Memorial Visitation with the family present to greet friends will be from 3:00 - 5:00 pm Sunday, May 5, at Miller Funeral Home-Downtown, 507 S. Main Ave., with a Public Masonic Service beginning at 5:00 pm at the funeral home.
Memorial service will be at 11:00 am Monday, May 6, at Calvary Episcopal Cathedral, 500 S. Main Ave. with private family interment at Woodlawn Cemetery.
The Rev. Allen Lee Lewis was born July 6, 1941, in Charlotte, NC, to H. Lauren and Jane (Allen) Lewis. He graduated in 1959 from Washington Senior High School in Sioux Falls, SD. Following high school, he attended Grinnell College in Grinnell, IA and Augustana College in Sioux Falls before going to work at All American Transport in Sioux Falls in 1963. Over the next 13 years he would relocate to Yankton, SD, Sioux Falls, SD, Hinsdale, IL, and back to Sioux Falls, SD where he finished his trucking career as President of Midwest Coast Transportation. Allen returned to Augustana College and received his Bachelor of Arts in 1980. While attending Augustana, Allen was called to the ministry and went on to receive his Masters of Divinity from the University of the South, School of Theology, Sewanee, TN in 1983. Allen was ordained to the Deaconate in Calvary Episcopal Cathedral, Sioux Falls in 1983 and ordained to the Priesthood in Christ Church, Yankton in 1984. Father Al served as the pastor of Christ Church from 1983 till 1987. He then moved to Sioux Falls and served as Canon to the Ordinary until 1989. He next served as the interim priest in Sturgis, SD till 1990. His final posting was to Grace Church in Madison, SD and St. Mary's and Our Blessed Redeemer Church in Flandreau, SD until his retirement in 2012. Father Al continued to assist when requested most notably at St. Mary's and Our Blessed Redeemer Church and at Holy Innocents Church in Lahaina, HI.
Father Al met the love of his life on September 16, 1962 when he and Brenda Anderson were both teaching Sunday school at Calvary Cathedral. They were united in Marriage on January 28, 1963 in Calvary Cathedral. They were loving parents to their four children who delighted in following them on their adventures as they moved and travelled throughout their life together.
Allen was Initiated, Passed, and Raised in Unity Lodge, Sioux Falls in 1964. He joined the Sioux Falls Valley of the Scottish Rite in 1965. He became a Knight Commander of the Court of Honor in 1993, and received the 33rd Degree in 1997. His dedication and leadership were instrumental in helping bring the Scottish Rite Children's Clinic for Speech & Language Disorders to Sioux Falls. He joined El Riad Shrine, Sioux Falls in 1968. He joined the Yankton Elks Lodge #994 in 1965. He was an avid bridge player attaining the rank of Life Master on October 1, 1976 and Silver Life Master on June 1, 1992. Over the course of several decades Father Al amassed one of the largest private collections of Science Fiction and Fantasy hard bound first edition books in the world. The bulk of his collection was donated to the University of Iowa in 2015. In his spare time Father Al enjoyed cooking, reading, puzzles and travel.
Grateful for having shared his life are his wife Brenda; his sons Thomas (Anna) Lewis of Germantown MD, Lee (Kari) Lewis of Harrisburg, SD, Patrick Lewis of Richardson TX, his daughter Elizabeth (Anna) Lewis of Bellevue, WA; five grandchildren Daryl, Charles, Georgia, Scout, and Elliot; brothers James (Erna) Lewis of Bullhead City, AZ, David (Jan) Lewis of Sioux Falls, SD, and Paul (Linda) Lewis of Las Vegas, NV. Father Al was preceded in death by his parents.
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Al will always hold a special place in my heart. My husband and I sought his spiritual guidance and he officiated our wedding 25 years ago. I appreciated his authenticity and kindness. He took great care to help make our wedding day all that we had hoped it would be. When I was young, he made me feel valued. Now that I am older, I would say he had a Christ-like attitude and that truly impacted me.
To Brenda and family, God's peace
Wendy Draeger
May 9, 2019
What an inspiration!
Allen was, indeed, a very special person.
May his memory be eternal...
May 5, 2019
So sad to hear of Allen's passing. Allen was a friend and classmate at Mark Twain and Washington High School. Conversations with him and Brenda at the high school reunion gatherings were always interesting and entertaining. Allen and I remembered our days in 7th grade at Mark Twain when we volunteered to bring cookies for a party honoring a favorite teacher who was moving away. Of course we had to make them before we could bring them, so we spent two evenings baking. The first evening was at Allen's house and the second at mine. Allen always remembered the difference in kitchen sizes; his was large and mine was quite small. But, the cookies did not know the difference. I will miss the chance to reminisce with him again.
Gary Hobart
May 3, 2019
WE Will miss the good times we had with Al and Brenda. Spent many fun days in Hawaii with them. Vincent enjoyed playing cards with Al and we also enjoyed the many wonderful meals he liked to cook
Rest in Peace Vincent and Nancy
May 2, 2019
Dear Mrs. Lewis and family,
Our deepest sympathies to you all. Rev. Lewis was an amazing man in many ways. We are grateful to have known him.
Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
In sympathy,
Rex and Carrie Gulickson
May 1, 2019
Psalm 90:10 says that the days of our years are 70 years, And if because of special mightiness they are 80 years.
May the memories of the wonderful times you shared together bring a smile and joy in your heart.
May 1, 2019
RIP a fine and perfect gentleman
Bruce Lemon
May 1, 2019
Allen was an amazing man and was an instrumental figure in my life. From the time he and Brenda opened his house for my mother, to the time they opened it for me when I was in medical school, to the time when they offered their home to celebrate my graduation, to the time that he celebrated at my wedding, to the time that he let us cook for him (wide eyed emoji), to the time we went to a Royal's game and all the other times that we thought of each other. He was a rock for many. He will be missed.
Jennifer Hall Lowry Sample
April 30, 2019
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Miller Funeral Home - Downtown507 S. Main Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104
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Miller Funeral Home - Downtown507 S. Main Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104
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