Dean Charles Ahrendt

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Dean Charles Ahrendt, 75, of Hartford passed away surrounded by his family on January 4, 2026, at his home under hospice care. Funeral mass will be held at 10:00 am on Saturday, January 10, 2026, at St. George Catholic Church in Hartford. Visitation with family present will be held on Friday from 5 – 7 pm with a prayer service at 7 pm, all at the church.

Dean Charles Ahrendt was born February 10, 1950, to Walter and Magdalen (Spielmann) Ahrendt in Sioux Falls, SD. He attended Ginsbach 108 country school through 8th grade, being the only one in the class from 5th through 8th grade. In 1968, he was in the first graduating class from West Central High School. Dean worked for a neighboring farmer through the summer after graduation. He then enlisted into the Air Force in September of 1968, attending boot camp at Lackland in San Antonio, TX, where he trained for twelve weeks. He moved to Williams Air Force Base in Phoenix for one year and then he went on to serve in Vietnam at Tan Son Nhut Air Base for one year. Following his service in Vietnam, Dean served in Albuquerque for 22 months.

Upon his honorable discharge from the military, he worked at Schwartz Manufacturing for one year and eventually started at the Hartford Farmers Elevator in 1974. He became manager in 1977 and remained in this role until a cancer diagnosis forced him into retirement in 2012. During his 35 years as the manager, he greatly enjoyed his work and building strong relationships with all of the local farmers and held an appreciation day for them every year in August. During his retirement, he was often seen driving around "snooping" and visiting with all the friends he had made over the years.

Dean was an avid reader of John Grisham novels. He also enjoyed cheering on (or cursing) the Minnesota Twins and Vikings. He was never without a pack of gum and a tube of chapstick. He took great pride in his property and it showed with his well manicured lawn and tree groves.

Dean married Therese O'Kane on March 10, 1979 in Hartford. From this union, they were blessed with 4 children, 7 grandchildren, 6 bonus grandchildren, and 4 bonus great grandchildren.

Dean is survived by: his wife, Therese of Hartford; children, Sarah (Dean) Rajewich, Jill (Brian) Siedschlag, and Charlie (Kelli) Ahrendt, all of Hartford; grandchildren,Tyson Lemke, Taylor (Casey Kleinsteuber) Rajewich, Emma Rajewich, Andrew Rajewich, Trey Struck, Kyla (Reis) Jackson, Nate Struck, Felicia (Chuck) Winter, Jessica Siedschlag, Theodore Petersen, Quincy Petersen, Franklin Petersen, and Huxley Ahrendt; great-grandchildren, Brennan Marks, Aubree Winter, Adalynn Winter, Bodhi Winter; siblings, Wally (Brenda) Ahrendt of Sioux Falls, Tom (Patty) Ahrendt of Hartford; Jim (Claudia) Ahrendt of Sioux Falls; sisters- and brothers-in-law, Diane Ahrendt of Humboldt, Bobby (Jean) O'Kane of Hartford, Tom O'Kane of Beresford, Mary (George) Poppenga of Sioux Falls, John (Barb) O'Kane, Rosemary (Mike) Jesse, all of Hartford, and Marty Jesse of Humboldt; and numerous nieces, nephews, and life-long friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his son, Joseph, brother, Dennis, sisters- and brothers-in-law, Susan Ahrendt, Shirley Ahrendt, Barb and Tom Warne, Colleen Jesse, and parents-in-law, Robert and Lois O'Kane.