Donald L. Noethlich

Donald L. "Don" Noethlich, age 69, Doland, died at the Heart Hospital of South Dakota on Monday afternoon, March 29, 2004. Mr. Noethlich was a former resident of the Clark and Willow Lake communities. Funeral services will be held on Friday, April 2, 2004 at 10:30 AM in the Presbyterian Reformed Church United at Willow Lake with the Reverend Stephen Wilkins officiating. Burial will follow in the Collins Cemetery at Willow Lake. Visitation will be held on Thursday from 6-8 PM with a Public Prayer service beginning at 7PM all in the Furness Funeral Home Chapel at Clark. Visitation will continue on Friday morning at the Church in Willow Lake after 9AM. He was born at Willow Lake, SD, the son of LeRoy (Happy) and Florence (Mundhenke) Noethlich. He grew to adulthood in the Willow Lake area attending Willow Lake schools graduating in 1953. In November of 1953 he joined the United States Marine Corps and served his country until November of 1956. Following his return from the service, he was employed at the Community Oil Company in Willow Lake and Clark. On June 21, 1959 he was united in marriage to Judith L. Heckenlaible at the Presbyterian Church at Willow Lake. The couple lived at Clark from 1959-1969 when they moved to a farm near Willow Lake. He continued to work for the Community Oil Co. until becoming employed at the Clark Roller Feed Mill in 1967. He was later transferred to the Doland Elevator. The family moved to Doland in 1977. He worked at the elevator until 1980 and then began work at the South Dakota Development Center at Redfield as a Developmental Disability Technician until retiring in 1995. Following his retirement, he has helped his sons on the Noethlich Farms near Doland, especially with the fall harvest. Some of his hobbies included fishing, hunting, especially geese, and following high school sports in the area. He enjoyed countless hours of driving around the countryside, looking at the fields and nature and handing out candy to his grandchildren and even a dog. In earlier years he learned the art of taxidermy. Grateful for having shared in his life is his wife, Judy of Doland, children, Daniel Noethlich and wife Teresa of Doland, Michael Noethlich of Lake Norden, Dwight Noethlich and wife Dianne of Doland, Mark (Louie) and wife Natasha of Doland and Melanie Thome and husband Laren of Webster, his Mother, Florence Houghton of Bryant, a sister, Marlys Larson and husband Keith of DeSmet, 17 grandchildren, Don, Billy, Jon, Stephanie, Jennifer, John, Jessica, Greg, Charlie, Jenny, Joey, Brianna, McKenzie, Larry, Haleigh, Kaylynn and Cole and 1 great-granddaughter, Brianne. Preceding him in death was his Father, 'Happy' Noethlich, and a brother, Laurel 'Butch' Noethlich and his stepfather, Charlie Houghton.