Donald Lee Merrill

Donald Lee Merrill, 87, passed away peacefully in his home on April 26, 2022, holding the hands of his wife, Alyce, and his children.

Don was born in Sioux Falls, SD, on June 14, 1934, to George and Edna (Hink) Merrill. He was baptized April 6, 1941, at First Methodist Church in Sioux Falls. Don graduated from Washington High School (Sioux Falls) in 1952.  During his high school years, he fell in love with the sport of rodeo. Don could be found scraping up money to enter any rodeo within traveling distance. He won the South Dakota High School Rodeo Championship in 1953 in the event of steer wrestling. Following high school, Don was drafted into the US Army and was stationed at Fort Lewis, WA.  While in the Army, Don produced a military rodeo on the base.  

After being honorably discharged from military service, Don completed farrier training (horse shoeing) in Sturgis, SD.  Don was also employed by the Iseman Corporation in Sioux Falls and then later with Midwest Coast Trucking.  While working at Midwest Coast, he kept stopping at the dispatch office to talk to the strawberry blond working behind the desk, Alyce Wieme.  After being turned down several times, he finally succeeded in getting a date with Alyce. Don and Alyce were united in marriage June 2, 1962, at St. Mary Catholic Church in Dell Rapids, SD.  Don and Alyce would have been married 60 years in June.  

Don also worked for the Sioux Falls Fire Department for a short time (punching the clock was not really something Don was a fan of), as well as continuing to shoe horses. A mutual love of horses led Don to meeting his dear friend, Dr. Erv Ortman. This friendship led Don and Alyce to Canistota, South Dakota, to manage the U-Bar Ranch.  While operating the registered quarter horse ranch, Don was instrumental in bringing the first Gelbvieh cattle into the United States from Germany.  During the years on the ranch, Don spent his days caring, traveling and showing award-winning horses and Gelbvieh cattle.  On a frigid January night in 1972, the horse barn was engulfed in flames.  This tragic event led to the death of seven of the top show string horses as well as the entire barn, tack, trophies and equipment. This was a devastating family event that deeply impacted Don.  

After 15 years, they left the ranch. Don and Alyce then bought and managed the Best Western U-Bar Motel in Canistota until January of 1997.  During those years, they were both active and licensed in real estate.. Thirteen years later they sold the motel and moved back to Sioux Falls.  Don continued to sell commercial real estate in Sioux Falls creating many close friendships along the way.

Don is a Lifetime Gold Card Member of the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association. Don holds the record time in professional rodeo history in steer wrestling. He finished atop the steer wrestling standings in the Kiwanis Benefit Rodeo in November 1976 with a time of 2.7 seconds.

Don and Alyce are blessed to have their four children live within a few miles of them. Don is survived by his wife of 59 years, Alyce; children, Nancy (Mark) Gerdes, Donna Merrill Nelson, Jeff (Tracey) Merrill and Jamie (Gregg) Merrill Moores.  Seventeen grandchildren also bless their lives and are always in and out of grandma and grandpa’s house.   Don was always very concerned about his stash of Alyce’s world- famous chocolate chip cookies and kept a close eye on how many the grandkids continued to eat!  Loving their grandpa are Isaac (Alexis) Gerdes, Jordan (Laura) Gerdes, Taryn (Erik) Peterson, Austin (Alicia) Merrill, Hannah (Jamari) Hartley, Luke Merrill, Ryan Merrill, Nicole Gerdes, Austin Moores, Chase Merrill, Kolin Schroeder, Cody Moores, Tye Merrill, Kaleb Schroeder, Jake Merrill, Kai Schroeder, and Nathan Merrill.  Also missing Grandpa are the eight great-grandchildren:  Jeremiah, Jack, Samson, Max, Isabelle, Blake, Blaise, and Elijah. Don is also survived by brothers Dick (Lois) Merrill and Glen (Carol) Merrill.  Sister JoAnn (Derald) Espeland and Sister in law Corene (Rich) DeSmet.  Not to be forgotten is his dog, Casey, his faithful companion for the past 14 years.

Preceding him in death are his parents, George and Edna (Hink) Merrill, step-mother Katherine Merrill, siblings Robert, Shirley,  Beverly, and son-in-law Michael Nelson. Don is also preceded in death by his best friend, Jack McElrath. 

In lieu of flowers, all memorials received by the family will be directed towards the ongoing medical/rehab care of an SDSU rodeo team member and McCrossan Boys Ranch.

Funeral services will take place at First United Methodist Church on Tuesday, May 3, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. followed by lunch and fellowship before burial at the Dell Rapids Cemetery.  The family will arrive to the cemetery at approximately 1:45 p.m. with a horse drawn wagon and riderless horse presentation.  The committal service will conclude the committal service with full military honors.

Visitation will be at Heritage Funeral Home on Monday, May 2, 2022, from 5:00-7:00 p.m. with a prayer service and time of sharing beginning at 6:30 p.m.

The link to watch Don's funeral service virtually can be found at the link listed below.  Hit the yellow tab at the top of the page labeled "watch live" about 10 minutes before the start of his service to join the funeral service virtually.

https://www.sfumc.org/

Don's time of sharing and prayer service on Monday, May 2, 2022 will also be offered virtually.  Please see the Zoom link below to join on May 2, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. CST.

Heritage Funeral Home is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/81378556024?pwd=RGhkTSs1am4vN2I0VnFGS1dSVzQyUT09

Meeting ID: 813 7855 6024
Passcode: 564157