ONIDA, SD – Michael “Mike” Wayne Wolforth, 43, of Onida, SD, passed away peacefully at his home on Monday, December, surrounded by his family after a three-year battle with brain cancer.
Memorial Services honoring Mike’s life will be held 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, December 27, 2023, at the Agar Auditorium, with Pastor Jeff Adel officiating. Burial will take place at the Onida Cemetery.
Mike was born November 28, 1980 to Kaleen (Brunmeier) Wolforth and Terry Wolforth in Pierre, SD, joining his older brother, “TJ” Terry Jr. He grew up in Agar, SD where he attended elementary and middle school, then freshman and sophomore year he was enrolled in Gettysburg High School. He transferred to Onida High School his junior year and graduated from Sully Buttes High School in 1999. Mike was active in elementary school with baseball and basketball, and rodeo club in high school, along with helping out at his Grandma and Grandpa Wolforth’s farm. After graduating, he attended Lake Area Technical Institute in Watertown, SD for building trades.
When Mike graduated from LATI in 2001, he had already been working with Hire a Husband for a year and continued to work for them until starting his own construction business in 2003. His main specialty was shingling, but he also performed other work including siding, remodeling, window replacement, etc. He would employ the help of friends and relatives from time to time with bigger projects, each of whom has fond/funny stories to share from the time spent working with “Mr. Safety” himself. In 2010, Mike took a job at Nye Lumber, in Onida, as the yard operator. He helped many customers with project estimates, window glass/screen replacements, etc. He always joked that he “don’t do paint, cause you never know what you’re gonna end up with” since he was colorblind. In the spring of 2019, Mike took a job working in the grains department at the newly built Ethanol Plant in Onida. He quickly worked his way up to the supervisor position within the department until he was diagnosed with a brain tumor in August 2020.
Late summer 2006, he met Valerie Osterkamp (Jorgenson). However, it wasn’t until early 2007 with the help of mutual friends and a blind date, that they became an item. They enjoyed spending time with each other, whether they were going on trips, hunting, fishing, camping, or just driving around. He was introduced to her three children, Karissa, Darion, and Adrianna. He was very proud to have them in his life and spent as much time as he could teaching them to shoot, archery, fishing, hunting, driving, how fun mud puddles on section lines could really be, and how to hold onto an inner tube behind a 4wheeler in the snow. Mike took each one on their first deer hunts documenting their experiences on video. As they grew up, he could be found in the gym, on the golf course, or at fine arts events cheering each one of them on in whatever they were participating in. On June 1, 2013, the family became official when Mike and Valerie married in Pierre. In 2022 Mike adopted Adrianna and Karissa, and in September of that same year became a grandfather.
As a youngster, Mike honed his “cowboy” skills at his relative’s ranch outside of Gettysburg, learning how to rope and ride. He found his passion riding bulls when he was 16 years old in 4-H and the High School Rodeo Club. In 1999 he won the bull riding Championship at the SD 4-H Finals Rodeo. He then rode his second year at Lake Area and became part of the NBRT Association in 2006 until 2008. Growing up, Mike spent a lot of time with family hunting and fishing. Throughout his life, Mike could be found outside scouting for deer, hunting, fishing, shed hunting, four wheeling, camping, and spending time with family and friends. He enjoyed going to different places and had told many stories about his hunting trips with friends, whether it was freezing in a tent antelope hunting then packing out the animal up a steep hill in Wyoming, to memories going to hills 4 wheeling or attending the stock show. Mike worked hard and played harder. He lived life to the fullest. The last few years he could be found at the coffee shop in the morning, laughing and joking with all who were there, and making sure no one’s cup was empty.
Mike was able to make friends with anyone, anywhere, striking up conversations with random people like he knew them. When asked who that was after parting ways, he would smile and reply “I don’t know.” He was a genuine “what you see is what you get” person, which drew others to him, especially kids. Mike knew how to have fun; good, bad, or otherwise, and could joke around with the best of them. He was also a patient man who always put others first, never hesitating to lend a hand when asked.
His memory will live on in his wife, Valerie, Onida, SD; three children/step children: Karissa Wolforth, Pierre SD, Darion Osterkamp, Ft. Bliss, TX, and Adrianna Wolforth, Onida, SD; one grandson, Adonis Everitt, Pierre, SD; father, Terry Wolforth, Agar, SD; mother, Kaleen Wolforth, Onida, SD; grandmother, Edna Brunmaier, Onida, SD; brother, Terry Jr. (TJ) Wolforth (Rebekah), Agar, SD; and many aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
Mike was preceded in death by his grandparents, Alvin and Marvel Wolforth; grandfather, Kenneth (Mike) Brunmaier, and uncles: Jack Wolforth, Greg Vogel, and Wayne Wolforth.
The family of Mike would like to thank all who helped to care for him during the last three years following his diagnosis. Thank you for all the wonderful care from the doctors, nurses, and therapists in Rochester MN, Sioux Falls SD, Pierre SD, and Onida. Thank you all who helped with medical expense fund raisers, donations, driving to and from appointments, and the help keeping the home front going while Mike and Val were away, all the prayers that were sent up to heaven, and the wonderful support of friends throughout this journey. We are truly blessed to be in such a self-giving, close-knit, caring community.
In lieu of flowers, Mike and his family ask for donations in his name to SD Youth Outdoors http://Sdyouthhunt.com/make-a-donation/
Luce Funeral Home of Gettysburg has been entrusted with Mike’s arrangements. (www.familyfuneralhome.net)

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