Myron R. Vetter

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Myron R. Vetter, 94, of rural Onida, SD, left his temporary home and entered his eternal home with his Lord and Savior on Wednesday, July 1, 2026, surrounded by family at Avera Heart Hospital, Sioux Falls, SD.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Friday, July 10, 2026, at Grace Bible Church, Gettysburg with Pastor Logan Nyquist presiding. Burial will follow in the Onida Cemetery. A prayer service will be held at 7:00 p.m. Thursday, July 9, 2026, at the church, with visitation one hour prior.

Myron Ray Vetter was born to William and Lida (Vosberg) Vetter on October 14, 1931, on the Sully County farm where he was raised and lived throughout his 94 years on earth. He attended the Vetter one-room country school for eight years, located just one-quarter mile across the pasture from the family home. He recalled that there was little opportunity to neglect his homework since the schoolteacher boarded with the family in the farmhouse. Following grade school, he attended Onida High School, graduating in 1949.

After graduation, he began farming with his father and, on August 26, 1955, married LaVon Hofer. Following their marriage, Myron and LaVon built a home on the family farm across the driveway from his parents’ house. There they welcomed a son, Dan, and daughters Vicki and Vonda.

Throughout his farming career, Myron embraced changes in agriculture, continually adapting to new equipment and technologies. His interest in learning led him to complete a DeVry correspondence course in electronics. He worked diligently to improve the farm, constructing new grain bins, a shop, and equipment sheds. In 1983, son-in-law Keith Heien and daughter Vicki returned to the farm, and Myron and Keith farmed together in partnership for the remaining 43 years of Myron’s life, continually expanding the operation and investing in modern equipment.

Myron accepted Christ as his Savior at the age of eight while attending the Open Bible Church in Onida under the ministry of Miss Lila Shor. He dedicated his life to Christ in July 1949 at Camp Byron (Huron, SD) and joined Emmanuel MB Church in Onida that same year. In January 1966, he transferred his membership to Grace Bible MB Church in Gettysburg.  Committed to supporting the new church plant, Myron and his family quickly became involved in the construction of the church’s new home on Broadway in Gettysburg. Along with many others from the congregation, he provided much of the labor for the original building and later participated in the church’s expansion and construction of a larger sanctuary.

Faithful in service, Myron taught Sunday school for nearly 70 years, beginning in his teens and continuing well into his eighties. He also served as a youth leader, song leader, and participant in many church Christmas plays. During these years, he served on church council boards as well as the Home Mission Board for the Mennonite Brethren Central District. His leadership gifts eventually led to key leadership roles within both the Central District and the United States Mennonite Brethren Conference.

As a dedicated student of Scripture and respected lay leader, he was frequently called upon to fill the pulpit during pastoral absences and transitions. He became known as an outstanding Bible teacher, a skilled facilitator of discussion, and a consistent source of encouragement to those around him.

Myron also shared his leadership abilities with the broader community. He was committed to education, serving on the Richvalley Elementary School Board, on the Onida school board during the time the Blunt and Onida schools joined to form Sully Buttes School, and later on the Tabor College board. He served on the Onida Airport Board during the construction of its first paved runway and was chairman of the Sully County Co-op when it merged with CHS.

Above all, Myron was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather who always made time for his family. Sunday afternoons were often spent water skiing with family and friends at Cottonwood Lake or Whitlock Bay. Family vacations were a regular part of life whenever the farm schedule allowed, taking them to destinations including Minneapolis, Chicago, the Seattle World’s Fair, Disneyland in California, SeaWorld and Disney World in Florida, and the New York World’s Fair.

Myron and LaVon loved to travel and made many trips, visiting Russia, China, Australia, New Zealand, Africa, Mexico, Brazil, and several other countries throughout South America. Together they visited six of the world’s seven continents.  He and LaVon took the entire extended family on cruises to celebrate their 50th, 60th, and 70th wedding anniversaries.

Those who knew Myron will remember his steadfast faith, generous spirit, servant’s heart, and genuine interest in others. His children and grandchildren will seek to carry forward his legacy of love and service to God, family, and community.

Myron is survived by his wife of more than 70 years, LaVon; his children, Dan (Carmen) Vetter, Vicki (Keith) Heien, and Vonda (Mark) Graf; his grandchildren, Jonathan (Ling) Vetter, Heidi (Christopher) Richardson, Holly Heien (Eric Knutson), Mitchell (Stacie) Graf, Timothy Heien, Marissa (Cristian) Hernandez, and Micah (Elle) Graf; and his great-grandchildren, Vivia Vetter, Cruz Richardson, and Miles Graf, with two additional great-grandchildren expected.

Myron was the last surviving member of the William and Lida Vetter family. He was preceded in death by his parents and by his siblings, Benjamin, David, Helen, and Herbert.

“Well done, good and faithful servant.” — Matthew 25:23