ONIDA, SD – Daniel “Dan” Lee Sutera, 84, of Onida, passed away Tuesday, August 13, 2024 in Sioux Falls.

Visitation will be held 5:00-6:00pm, Tuesday, August 20, 2024 at the Onida Presbyterian Church, concluding with a prayer service at 6:00pm. Funeral Services will begin at 11:00am, Wednesday, August 21, 2024 at the Onida Presbyterian Church. Burial Services will take place the following morning, Thursday, August 22, 2024 at 11:00am at the Presbyterian Cemetery near Tabor, SD.

Daniel (Dan) Lee Sutera, 84, son of Frank and Emma (Vavruska) Sutera, was born on August 23, 1939 on the family farm, and died on Tuesday, August 13, 2024 at Avera McKennan Hospital.

Dan grew up in the Tyndall and Tabor area where he attended rural elementary school prior to graduating from Tyndall High School. In high school he participated in all sports but his favorite was track & field where he was state champion in several events. He went to Southern State Teachers College and received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Social Studies and coaching. His first teaching assignment was in Herman, Nebr. He ended his teaching career at Sully Buttes in Onida, SD. His greatest memory of teaching and coaching was taking his basketball team to the State B Tournament in 1974. He served the ABO School District for 39 years. During the summers he coached baseball, painted houses and worked at Oahe Grain during harvest.

Dan was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Onida and sang in the church choir. He also served as a Trustee and an Elder. In the fall Dan liked to hunt pheasants and deer with his friends. He was a girl’s and boys basketball referee for many years with his partner, John Knox. Through thick and thin, he remained an avid Nebraska Cornhusker fan.

He married the love of his life, Helen Moneke, on June 1, 1963. They were married in Tyndall, SD. They both retired in 2004 and did a lot of traveling going to all 50 States and several foreign countries. Their favorite travel was to attend as many events as possible of their grandchildren. But Dan liked being home so he could take care of his lawn which was his pride and joy.

Dan is survived and remember by his wife of 61 years, Helen; children: Dave (Patty) Sutera, Mary (Don) Sieck, Ann Hepker, and Barb (Tom) Opitz; grandchildren: Matt (Luke) Sutera, Nate Sutera, Zach (Rachel) Sutera, Amanda (Kevin) Colestock, Brandon (Wesley) Sieck, Kristen (Hunter) Hermes, Lacey (fiancé Severin) Hepker, Landon Hepker, Brianna Opitz, Morgan Opitz, Brooke (friend Caden) Opitz, Cody Opitz, Jenn (Cory) VanDenBerg; great grandchildren: Blakely Colestock, Roy Hermes, Gretchen & Vincent VanDenBerg, and Sisters-in-law Florence Sutera and Shirley Sutera and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Brothers: Wilbur, Wayne, Eugene, Jim, Clarence; and Sisters: Esther, Ruth, Shirley, Mabel.

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