Mike Randall

1948 - 2014

Michael R. Randall

Mike Randall, of rural Dell Rapids, SD, passed away the morning of August 4th in his farm home with his wife Becky at his side after a long battle with cancer. His Funeral Service will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, August 7, 2014 in the Lutheran Church of Dell Rapids. Visitation on Wednesday will be from 12:00 noon to 5:00 p.m. at Kahler Funeral Home and will resume at the Lutheran Church of Dell Rapids at 5:30 p.m. The family will be present at the church and a Prayer Service will begin at 7:00 p.m.

Michael Ray Randall was born on June 22, 1948 to Leland and Vivian Randall in Dell Rapids alongside his twin sister Susan, the youngest two of 4 children. Mike grew up in the town of Dell Rapids near the Big Sioux River and spent his childhood split between the family's home in Dell Rapids and the family's farm east of town. Mike went on to attend SDSU to earn his degree in Animal Science. While in college Mike was active with the Lutheran Center and began to recognize the global need for nourishment and how South Dakota farmers could be a participant in the global food supply.

After college, Mike returned to Dell Rapids and began farming with his brother Ron. A few years later Mike began dating Becky Larson; they married on August 7, 1977. They expanded their family with 4 children and continued to farm. Mike also ran a trucking business and brokered hay while growing the family's cattle business, forming a family farm/feedlot.

In the mid 1990s Mike became involved with South Dakota Corn Growers, and in 1996 he became the organization's president. He also served on the South Dakota Corn Utilization Council. In the late 1980s Mike traveled to Hungary with the American Center for International Leadership, and he also testified in front of US Congress on the need for an updated rail infrastructure to allow Midwest farmers to have access to the coastal and international markets. Mike was a proponent of "feeding the world", a calling which was very dear to his heart, and he spent much of his time working toward this goal. His professional achievements were recognized with his endowment of the SDSU Eminent Farmer Award.

Mike's faith was foundational to his life. He was especially fond of the book of Romans and he shared this passion with his wife and children. Micah 6:8 is an apt description of Mike's philosophy on life: "Do justice, love mercy, walk humbly with your God...". Mike served as president of the Dell Rapids Lutheran Church council and was an active participant in the church's international initiatives. Mike experienced God's joy through two avenues: people and Creation. Mike was a genuine, sincere listener and great conversationalist who famously winked to demonstrate understanding, and he greatly enjoyed being outside and soaking in sunrises, sunsets, and all that occurred in between. Our hearts ache in loss but we give thanks he has left this broken world and has a new body to dwell eternally with Christ who makes all things new.

Mike's spirit will be remembered and missed by countless friends and family. Before passing he indicated his excitement to be reunited with his brother Ron and parents Leland and Vivian, who preceded him. He will be honored on this Earth by those he leaves behind: wife Becky (Larson); daughter Malene (Ford), husband Josh, and their children Aidan, Zoe, & Edward; daughter Sarah (Burkett), husband Taylor, and their children Levi & Josie; son Jesse; son Isaac and his son Theodore; sister Lee Ann (Sheggeby) and husband Sid; sister Susan Randall and husband Mark Sanderson; as well as numerous cousins, nieces, nephews, and neighbors.

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