Dennis E. Letsche

Dennis Letsche, 84, of Miller, passed away Monday, July 6, 2026, surrounded by family, at the Avera Hand County Memorial Hospital in Miller.

Memorial service will be at 10:00 a.m., Saturday, July 11, 2026, at Reck Funeral Home in Miller. Visitation will begin one hour prior. Burial will be at the Wessington Cemetery.

Dennis Erwin Letsche was born at home on December 15, 1941, to Erwin and Irma (Osterlo) Letsche. He attended Rowen Grade School in Vayland and graduated from Wessington High School in 1959. Following high school, he attended Universal Trade School in Omaha, Nebraska, from 1959 to 1960.

On June 2, 1963, he married Mary Ellen Gainor at St. John’s Church in Wolsey. Dennis worked for Zeigler Motor Company and Dyer Implement before owning Midway Trailer Sales for nearly 35 years. He retired on October 1, 2004.

Dennis served as President of the Miller Jaycees, President of the South Dakota RV Dealers Association, and was a member of the Presbyterian Church.

He enjoyed playing baseball and softball, throwing darts, and putting up hay, but what he cherished most was fishing and camping with his children and grandchildren. Dennis was always fixing something, and he proudly shared that one of his grandsons would say, “Grandpa can fix anything.”

Known to many as “Dennis the Dealer” or “Dealing Dennis,” he was always working on his next deal—buying, selling, or trading just about anything, including the old wagons he loved refurbishing.

Dennis also had a special love for cats and dogs. He faithfully fed the stray cats around Midway Trailer Sales, and if one happened to capture his attention, it earned a place inside the shop. At home, there was never a shortage of cats and dogs, and although Dad would have denied it, more than a few of them were truly his.

Dennis is survived by his children: Phil (Kerrie) Letsche, Troy (Catherine) Letsche, and Paula (Kurt) Soderberg; his grandchildren: Brendan (Alyssa) Letsche, Devin (Rachel) Letsche, Kennedy (Ben) Hastings, Will Soderberg, Griffin Soderberg, Jessia Letsche, and Giovanni Letsche; his great-grandchildren: Chloe Letsche and Hattie Letsche; his sisters, Jill (Jim) Johnsen, Lark Bennett; and his brother, Curtis (Pam) Letsche.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Mary Ellen; his parents, Erwin and Irma Letsche; a brother, Travis; and a sister, Madeleine.

The family extends its heartfelt gratitude to the staff at Good Samaritan Nursing Home and Avera Miller Hospital for the compassionate care they provided Dennis, as well as the friends and family who helped care for him and supported the family in so many ways.

His legacy lives on through the lessons he taught, the memories he created, and the family he loved so dearly.

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Dennis’ arrangements.