Alec Joseph Whitney, known by most as “Big Al”, was born in Pierre, South Dakota on October 17, 2000. He grew up in Murdo and attended school at Jones County through high school. Alec went on to Mitchell Technical Institute for Powerline Construction. From there he went to work for Central Electric in Mitchell, and then moved on to build electrical substations for Energy Erectors in Texas and New Mexico. After deciding Texas and New Mexico were just too far away from family and friends, he moved back home to Murdo where he helped on his family ranch and worked for Locked and Loaded installing camera systems. This past winter he started Diamond AL, LLC a snow removal business in Murdo. He recently began working for SDDOT as a traveling highway technician in Pierre.

Alec enjoyed playing all sports including baseball, basketball, football, and golf. A few of his many accomplishments were being named to the 2019 State B All-Tournament Team, All Conference in Football, and state qualifier in golf. He loved hunting, calling coyotes, shooting prairie dogs and chasing whitetail deer. He spent a lot of time with his two brothers, Gunnar and Bodie, shooting hoops, playing catch, golfing, working together on the farm and going to brandings. Alec also enjoyed listening to music, playing cards, shooting pool, playing corn hole, and drawing in his free time. He valued spending time with his family, his lifelong friend Riley Rankin, his girlfriend Rayne Hermsen, and with his numerous friends he made over the years.

Alec always had a smile on his face, gave the best hugs, and enjoyed playing pranks on his friends and family. He was a very loving, outgoing, hardworking, honest, and caring person who was able to make friends anywhere he went. He had a calming presence
that made him easy to approach and a joy to be around. He was extremely blessed and grateful in his short life to have had a very large group of wonderful family members and friends who helped contribute to Alec becoming such a great man. Alec sincerely
cherished his time spent with all his Grandparents and he is grateful for the memories they shared together. He was a great role model and friend to so many people especially to his younger brothers.

Survivors include his parents Chad and Heather Whitney; his brothers Gunnar and Bodie; his grandparents Les and Lynette Schaefer, Terri Pelle and Jim; great-grandmother Esther Magnuson; many aunts, uncles, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his great-grandparents Lynn and Ethel Sedevie and great-grandpa Eldon Magnuson.

Visitation will be held 5-7 p.m. on Friday, May 20, with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m., all at the Harold Thune Auditorium in Murdo.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, May 21, at the Harold Thune Auditorium, with Father John Heying as celebrant.

Interment will be at the Murdo Cemetery.

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