Dennis Lee Kenzy

Dennis "Denny" Lee Kenzy was born on October 11, 1943 in Gregory, SD, the first son of Harry and Inez (Nelson) Kenzy.

Denny passed away on April 24, 2025, after a short stay at the Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls. For 81 years, Denny knew no other lifestyle than the one provided on the family farm in rural Iona, SD.

Denny either rode his horse or walked over the hill to attend the Lincoln country school through 8th grade. That school closed shortly after his graduation and is now part of the family farm. He attended high school in Gregory, SD and graduated in 1961.

At an early age, he learned the necessary workload that came with farm life. Denny knew and understood hard work. He took great pride in seeing that all farm duties were done well. When Denny was 17 he got his first set of cows on shares with his grandfather, Ted Nelson. At that time, he also drove truck for area haulers.

On October 31, 1964, Denny married Joan Smutny in Gregory, SD. They settled and spent the next 60 years on grandpa Ted's homestead. To this union were born four children: Mark, Roxanne, Toni, and Ryan.

Denny loved his farm and his family. He was proud of the land, crops, tractors with green paint, and buying good black cattle. There wasn't a stranger in a sale barn or a farm sale to Denny. He enjoyed those visits and outings. He had a reputation of not being outbid on something that he has his mind set on, a quality that may have been passed down from his dad.

In 1978, he was proud to participate in and have a John Deere tractor travel from Iona, SD to Washington, D.C. in the American Agriculture Movement (AAM) tractorcade to lobby for changes to U.S. Farm policy to support the family farm. Nearly 3,000 farmers drove tractors and the rally attracted more than three million people.

Denny was an avid reader of the local newspapers, farm publications, and local and western history.

Family vacations revolved around shopping for farm related items or visiting relatives in the Black Hills. These were never long trips because Denny started missing the farm as soon as he pulled out of the driveway.

Fun vacations came later on with lifelong friends. Denny loved to tell stores about their trips to Deadwood, Las Vegas, New Orleans, and Arizona.

Denny was proud that his boys also love the land, worked alongside him, and helped make it possible for him to continue to see the farm prosper each season.

Denny was known to do things his way and wasn't afraid to speak his mind. A perfect example was his flip phone voice mail. It simply says in true Denny fashion, "Just call back." Three simple words. Understood. No explanation needed or given. It's up to you to figure out that he's not going to listen to your voice mail.

From many vantage points, Denny lived his and The American Dream. He knew and felt the love of a 60 year marriage. Together, they raised four dynamic children while expanding their farming operation. When Denny was not in his tractor, he had a million dollar view out of the picture window of his living room. It has a panoramic view of the steers in the feedlot, the cows and pond in the pasture, and stunning sunsets of the Western skies most evenings. Those sunsets are love letters from God, as they truly are majestic.

Throughout the decades, many hunters and their families marveled at the slice of Americana that Denny created and lived every day of his life.

Denny developed a special knack for spoiling grandkids. He had unlimited 4th of July carnival tickets, ice cream in the freezer, and cookies and donuts at all times. These were perfect treats after borrowing Grandpa's four wheeler or side-by-side to help get the mail or check the cattle's water tanks--which usually resulted in finding a mud hole or searching for wildlife.

He is survived by his wife, Joan Kenzy; four children: Mark (Brandy Peck) Kenzy, Roxanne (Kelvin Thompsen) Kenzy, Toni (Quenton) McEntee, and Ryan (Britnie) Kenzy; nine grandchildren and great-grandchildren: Jaica Kenzy- Adamson, Bo Vander Vorste, Avery and Alexis McEntee, Chet, Tessa, and Lainey Kenzy, Madyson and Eli Donaldson; five siblings Bob (Sammi) Kenzy, Ted (Jane) Kenzy, Janelle (Allen) Fabbiano, Dianne (Paul) Andrews, and Frank (Jerri Lynn) Kenzy and their families; brothers-in-law Robert Smutny and George Smutny, and sister-in-law Cheryl Smutny and their families.

He was preceded in death by his parents Harry and Inez (Nelson) Kenzy, mother-in-law Annie Smutny, brothers-in-law Joseph Smutny and John Smutny, grandparents Lillian "Granny" Kenzy and Theodore and Pearle Nelson, and aunts Doris Stedham and Joyce LeLaCheur.

Funeral services for Dennis Kenzy, age 81, of Iona, SD were held on Thursday, May 1, 2025, at 11:00 AM at the Methodist Church, Gregory, SD, with Reverend Thanael Certa-Werner officiating. A prayer service was held at the church at 8 PM on Wednesday evening with visitation from 7-8.

Music was provided by Bette Fogel, pianist.

Musical selections were "Two More Hands," "Precious Lord, Take My Hand," and "God Be With You Till We Meet Again."

Soloist Avery McEntee sang "The Blessing."

Recorded music was "Stuck Like Glue" by Sugarland

Laurie Kenzy read the Obituary.

A time of Family Memories was held.

Dean Meinen and Robb Kuper were in charge of registration.

Flower attendants were Avery McEntee, Alexis McEntee, and Madyson Donaldson.

Casket Bearers were Mark Kenzy, Ryan Kenzy, Myles Kenzy, Bud Brozik, Clayton Whitney, Rod Whitney and Zane Whitney.

Honorary Casket Bearers were Buster Schuiling the old Timer, Cenex staff, sale friends, and special treat friends.

Interment was in the Czech National Cemetery, Gregory, SD.

Lunch was served following the committal service in the church fellowship hall by the Methodist Ladies and the Iona Friendly Neighbors.