Duane Bymers

Duane Frederick Bymers, age 92, died Saturday, December 13, 2025, at Edgewood Brookings-Senior Living in Brookings, South Dakota.

The Furness Funeral Home in Clark, SD, is handling the arrangements. An open house will be held at Rude’s Funeral Home in Brookings on Thursday, December 18 from 4:30-6:30 pm. Sharing of memories about Duane will be held at 5:30-6:00 pm. Guests are asked to bring a story. The scheduling of a celebration of life will be announced at a later date.

Memorial donations may be made to the South Dakota State University Foundation (815 Medary Ave, Brookings, SD 57006) to the Excellence Fund for Aviation Education in honor of Duane Bymers.

Duane Frederick Bymers was born January 24, 1933, in Conde, SD. He was the son of Peter and Gladys (Schultz) Bymers. He was raised on farms in Spink and Clark counties and graduated from Raymond High School in 1951. Following his graduation, he began farming. He spent the next 47 years in production agriculture near Raymond, SD, which included a diversified livestock and grain farming operation in partnership with a brother. He retired and moved to Brookings in 1999.

Duane’s interest in agriculture led him on a variety of additional paths. He was a shareholder in two farrow to finish hog corporations and subsequently established a C corporation to market and transport hogs. He was also one of the initial Board of Directors for the Northeast Grain Terminal Association in Watertown, SD, and served as a Certified Farm Debt Mediator for the South Dakota Department of Agriculture. Six year of his life were dedicated to the Clark County FMHA (currently known as USDA Rural Development).

Duane married Avalon Mary Henrichsen January 4, 1952, and subsequently produced four children.

Aviation was of great interest to Duane. He was a licensed private pilot and aircraft owner from 1968 to 2002. He logged approximately 2000 hours of flying time in both the United States and Canada. During those years he was an active member of the International and South Dakota Flying Farmer organization. He also served on the Brookings Airport Board after he was no longer in the air.

Following the move to Brookings, Duane found fulfillment building homes for Habit for Humanity. He also was a great fan of baseball and basketball at South Dakota State University and the SDSU marching band, the “Pride”.

Duane is survived by his wife, Avalon; daughters, Deborah (Venance) Lengkeek of Brookings, Susan Crews of Canon City, CO, and Nancy Bymers of Brookings; and son Douglas (Debbie) Bymers of South Riding, VA. He is additionally survived by 6 grandchildren; Seth and Evan Lengkeek, Amanda Davis, and Emily, Mallory, and Megan Bymers; and 3 great grandchildren; Chandler Davis and Ryan and Noah Lengkeek. His youngest sister, Karen McCoy, St. Cloud, MN, also survives.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Peter and Gladys Bymers and his siblings and their spouses; Valois (William) Danekas, Patricia (Rollie) Fey, Iris (Laird Rasmussen), Ramona (Lee) Kirkeby, Dean Bymers, and Marvin Bymers. Also predeceasing him were brother-in-law Forrest McCoy and son-in-law Craig Crews.