Rev. Donald Reynen – Mitchell Republic

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The Reverend Donald Lester Reynen, 88, of Milbank, SD formerly of Mitchell, went home to be with his Lord and Savior on Saturday, June 17, 2023, at St. Williams Care Center in Milbank. A celebration of Don’s life will be 10:30 AM Monday, June 26, at First Presbyterian Church in Mitchell. Burial will be in Graceland Cemetery in Mitchell. Visitation will be Sunday, June 25, from 5-7:00 PM at Bittner Funeral Chapel with a 6:30 PM prayer service.

Reverend Donald Lester Reynen was born on January 27, 1935 to Gladys M. Darling Reynen and Arthur P. Reynen in Sioux City, Iowa. Don moved to Milbank, SD with his parents at an early age and he attended all twelve years of school in Milbank, graduating in 1953. He held many high school jobs, participated in American Legion Baseball, and participated in varsity football and track in high school.

Don was united in marriage to Evelyn McFarlane, his high school sweetheart, on June 24, 1956 in Wilmot, SD. They were married a week short of 67 years and always celebrated their first date in 1952. They were blessed with four sons–Paul, Peter, Matthew, and Mark and a daughter, Sarah. They were also blessed with sixteen grandchildren and eighteen great-grandchildren.

Don attended Huron College in Huron, SD and graduated with a BA in 1958. While in college, he served at Forestburg Presbyterian Church and worked at the Dakota Wheel Alignment Shop. He attended Dubuque Theological Seminary in Dubuque, IA and graduated in 1962. While in seminary, he served at St. Johns Evangelical United Brethren Church in Garber, Iowa and coached cross county track at Dubuque University.

Don was baptized and confirmed at the United Methodist Church in Milbank, SD. He joined the First Presbyterian Church in Wilmot, SD in 1953 and was ordained to the ministry in the Presbyterian Church (USA) in 1962. He accepted the call to serve in the Presbyterian Church in Stephen, MN and the Community Presbyterian Church in Argyle, MN and served there for seven years. While there, he started annual youth camping trips to the Boundary Waters in MN. He also held leadership roles in the Red River Presbytery and the Synod of Minnesota and officiated high school football games.

In 1968, Don accepted the call to serve at First Presbyterian Church in Mitchell, SD. Over the years, he has counseled at church youth camps, conducted canoe camping trips to the Boundary Waters, served on the Presbytery of South Dakotas Committee on Ministry, Camping Committee, Christian Education Committee, Church Development Committee, and as Moderator of Presbytery of South Dakota He was a Commissioner to the General Assembly of the PC (USA) three times throughout his ministry. Don served as a member of the Synod of Lakes and Prairies Council and as Synod Moderator and served on the National Committee on Governing Body Relations. He served as a Huron College Trustee. Throughout his ministry, Don continued to officiate high school football and basketball games and Little League Football. He is a member of the Ministerial Association, Youth Protection Team, Cancer Walk Committee, President of Longfellow PTA, Cub Scout Leader, Dakota Wesleyan basketball scorekeeper, and Mitchell Concert Board member.

Don moderated and supplied the pulpits of many Presbyterian Churches in the area when the congregations had no pastoral leadership.

In 1991, after serving First Presbyterian Church for twenty-three years, Don resigned his position as pastor of the church and accepted the position as Chaplain for Queen of Peace Hospital. He served as chaplain for seventeen years and retired in 2009. While serving as chaplain, he also served as pastor of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church in Emery and First Presbyterian Church in Bridgewater.

Don had many passions—fishing, all sports, canoeing (especially in the Boundary Waters), camping, hunting, gardening, building, and repairing cars. He loves people and is always willing to help. He always preferred doing to watching and participating as much as possible. He loved his family and was very proud of them all.

Surviving to cherish his memory are his wife Evelyn; children: Dr. Paul (Carol) Sioux Falls, SD, Dr. Peter (Camille) Milbank, SD, Dr. Matthew (Diana) Aberdeen, SD, Dr. Marks wife, Gina, Mitchell, SD, and Sarah Lepke (Scott) , Watertown, SD; grandchildren: Major Nathan (Anna) Long Meadow, MA, Dr. John (Molly) Onalaska, WI, Andrew (Ruthie) Sun Prairie, WI, Ellie Darden (Matthew) Ft. Worth, TX, Natalie Karels (Brandon) Windom, MN, Clara (Maeve Biscupski) Iowa City, IA, Rachel Lynass (Luke) Sioux Falls, SD, Joe, Sioux Falls, SD, Sam (Jessica) Elkhorn, NE, John Donald , Aberdeen, SD, Katie Mueller (Caleb) Harrisburg, SD, Emily VanderWerff (Devin) Ankeny, IA, Abbie Marten (Jackson) Mpls. MN, Maggie and Max, Mitchell, SD, Matthew Lepke (Olivia) Vermillion, SD; great-grandchildren: Eden, Harper and Crew Reynen, Micah, Noah and Siri Reynen, Evie and Paul Reynen, Asher, Lucy and Bennett Darden, Emmett and Ezra Karels, Ben and Amelia Lynass, Sloan Reynen, and Kaden and Connor Mueller; sister, Betty Folk; sister-in-law, Doris Christianson; and many nieces, nephews, and friends.

Don was preceded in death by: son, Dr. Mark Reynen; parents, Arthur and Gladys Reynen; parents-in-law, Ellis and Ruth McFarlane; sisters, Donna Thyne, Joyce Folk, Barbara Bohn; sisters-in-law, Muriel and Dorie McFarlane; brother, Marlin Reynen; and brothers-in-law, Robert Thyne, Charles and Leo Folk and Arnold and Maurice McFarlane.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Presbytery of South Dakota for the Donald and Evelyn Reynen Permanent Endowment, the First Presbyterian Church of Mitchell, SD, or the Alzheimers Association.

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