Fr. Donald Molumby
August 26, 1928 ~ December 19, 2009
Mass of Christian Burial was held at 11:00 a.m., Tuesday, December 22, 2009 at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Miller with Bishop Paul J. Swain officiating along with Fr. Gerald Thury, Fr. Larry Regynski and Fr. Chester Murtha. Burial followed in St. Ann’s Catholic Cemetery in Miller. Visitation was from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Monday, December 21, 2009 followed by a 7:00 p.m. scripture wake service at St. Ann’s Catholic Church in Miller.
Father Don was born in Ramona, SD on August 26, 1928 to Ray and Consuello (Felker) Molumby. Father attended the University of Seattle in the early 1950’s and then in 1952 entered the seminary and in 1956 he graduated from the St. Paul Seminary School of Divinity in St. Paul, MN. Father attributed his desire to enter the priesthood to the Presentation Sisters of St. Thomas Aquinas in Madison, where he attended parochial grade school. Father was ordained at St. Joseph Cathedral in Sioux Falls on May 27, 1956, and later that year began his first assignment at St. Ann’s Parish in Miller where he served until 1958. Between 1958 and 1983, he served parishes in Sioux Falls, Pierre, Lesterville, Plankinton, Gettysburg, and Huron. He returned to the Miller parish in 1983 where he served until his retirement as a pastor in 1998. Father said of Miller, “I’ve always enjoyed Miller, and I asked the Bishop to send me back there. I like the rural atmosphere there and the kindness and generosity of the people at St. Ann’s church.” Father Don moved to the Prince of Peace Retirement Community in Sioux Falls in 1998 where he continued his duties as priest until his death.
Father Don is survived by his brothers, John (Diana) Molumby of Burlington, WI, Bill Molumby of Mitchell, SD, Richard (Margaret) Molumby of Ogden, UT, many nieces, nephews, cousins, special friends, and many parishioners.
Father Don was preceded in death by his parents, one sister-in-law, Shirley Molumby, and several special aunts and uncles who were a tremendous influence in his life.
In lieu of flowers, memorials preferred to the Priest retirement fund.
Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Father Molumby's arrangements.
MINISTERS
Bishop Paul J. Swain
Father Gerald Thury
Father Larry Regynski
Father Chester Murtha
CASKETBEARERS
John Madigan
Mike Madigan
Dan J. Molumby
Doug Molumby
Robin Kuhn
Mary Jorgensen
HONORARY CASKETBEARERS
All his loving nieces, nephews and cousins
ORGANIST
Connie Schroeder
MUSICIANS
St. Ann's Choir
MUSICAL SELECTIONS
"Be Not Afraid"
"The Spirit Song"
"The Sweetest Story Told"
"Song of Farewell"
"Blessed Are They"
EULOGY
Mary Jorgensen
Dan J. Molumby
LECTOR
Dennis Gilk
INTERMENT
St. Ann's Catholic Cemetery
Miller, South Dakota
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Our sympathy to Father’s family and the Diocease of SF……..We always enjoyed his presence at St.Ann’s here in Miller. God Bless, Ron and Suzi Brueggeman
Margaret and Dick, I was sorry to see Fr Molumby’s obituary in the paper today. I am also sorry that I cannot attend the services. My prayers are with you and your family. I regret that I never took the time to meet him while he was in Sioux Falls.
So sorry to hear of Fr Molumbys passing. When he lived in Plankinton he used to visit my parents cafe all the time and when we saw his obit in the paper my folks said do you remember one of the first years when we were in the cafe and we had a terrible blizzard and we lived in the north end of town and the cafe was at the south end of town and we could not get out to open the cafe and Fr Molumby said he would come and get them and they walked 2 blocks to the courthouse corner and picked them up and took them to the cafe so they could open it up for the stranded motorists and ended up staying for 3 days for the blizzard. When we reminise about the cafe days this story comes up quite often. Thanks for being a part of our life and a story that is often told in our family. Our prayers are with you all
I will miss Father dearly. I miss him walking by my office everyday and stopping in to say hi and visit with me. He was a wonderful man. He was a blessing to all the staff and residents here at Prince of Peace.
We always enjoyed Father Molumby while he was here at St. Ann’s in Miller. As an organist, I had the chance to closely observe his humor and great sense of caring for the people in our parish. He never failed to say thank you for all of our humble musical efforts in choir. We always felt appreciated! I kept in touch with him after he retired and I will miss our visits. Thank you for sharing him with all of us.