Jack Ufen

Jack Ufen, 88, of rural Miller, passed away Saturday, September 19, 2020 at the Avera Hand County Memorial Hospital, Miller.

Due to COVID-19 restrictions, all services have been cancelled. 

Burial with military honors was held at 11:00 a.m., Saturday, October 3, 2020 at G.A.R. Cemetery in Miller. 

Everyone is invited to share memories of Jack, you can record a short video message and email it to: bradufen@gmail.com.

Jack was born on a farm southeast of Miller on December 30, 1931, to George and Lenore (Danburg) Ufen. Jack attended country schools in Hand County and high school in Miller, graduating in 1949.

Jack worked construction for two years before being drafted into the US Army in 1952. He served at 8th Army headquarters in Seoul, Korea during the Korean Conflict. Jack was proud of the time he spent serving his country. After returning to the states in 1954, Jack attended college on the GI Bill, graduating from South Dakota State College (now SDSU) in 1958.

On February 22, 1959, Jack married Ramona Sivertsen, which began 61 years of marriage. To this union, three children were born.

Jack was office manager at Miller Livestock Auction for one year. Then he joined Ramona as a teacher, educating students for 11 years at grade levels from Kindergarten through high school, working in both Hand and Hyde counties.

Never a stranger to hard work, Jack and Ramona also worked during that time to establish their ranch—starting with nothing. Jack would often work into the night, baling road ditch hay, after a day of teaching, to gather feed for their growing cow herd. In 1971, Jack retired from teaching to focus on ranching. They raised Beefalo cattle for a number of years, eventually transitioning into developing and selling commercial Angus/Hereford cross bred heifers. In recent years, his son, Brad, has taken over day-to-day operations and continues the tradition of ranch life with his own family.

Jack enjoyed life on the prairies of South Dakota and the beauty of God’s creation. Jack loved his neighbors and his South Hand community, serving on the boards of various community organizations, including Pleasant Valley Township, South Hand Goodwill Corporation, Pleasant Valley Church, and Sunshine Bible Academy, where he served on the school board for 18 years.

A music lover, Jack enjoyed singing at many events and in various choirs, including a contest-winning choir while in the Army. He also spent countless hours moving sound equipment and chauffeuring daughter Kea and son Brian as they traveled throughout the state as the gospel and popular music duo the Kebras.

Jack was an avid fan of SDSU athletics, and he especially enjoyed watching their events in recent years. Jack understood the value of building others up, and he was intentional about offering a warm smile, a hug, and an encouraging word to those around him. And, of course, Jack adored his grandchildren.

As a veteran of the Korean Conflict, Jack was able to fly to Washington, D.C. in 2019 with Midwest Honor Flight—a trip he thoroughly enjoyed.

A man of faith, Jack’s favorite Bible verse of late was Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things through Christ who strengtheneth me.” Jack carried this verse on an index card in his pants pocket. On September 3, just before leaving the house for what would be the last time, already moving slower than normal and running late for his medical appointment, Jack asked Ramona for the pants he had just changed out of, saying he needed to get something out of the pocket—his Bible verse.

Grateful for sharing Jack’s life are his wife, Ramona, of Miller; two sons: Brian (Pamela) Ufen of Pleasant View, TN, and Brad (Ashley) Ufen of Miller; former son-in-law, Michael (Karen) Dearing of Murfreesboro, TN; sister, Patricia (Stan) Hansen of Rapid City; aunt, Derla (Dave) Simons of St. Lawrence; five grandchildren: Marshall (Emma) Dearing of Huntsville, AL, Annalyn and Coralee Ufen of Pleasant View, TN, and Kate and Hunter Ufen of Miller; and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

Jack was preceded in death by his parents, George and Lenore Ufen: his brother and sister-in-law, Robert and Mardell Ufen; daughter Kea Ufen-Dearing; and a preborn grandchild.

Memorials may be directed to Sunshine Bible Academy, 400 Sunshine Drive, Miller, SD 57362.

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