FT. PIERRE, SD – Maynard V. Wagner, age 87, of Fort Pierre, SD, died March 11, 2024 at Avantara Pierre. A Visitation will be held 5:30 – 7:00pm Sunday March 17, 2024 at Feigum Funeral Home concluding with a masonic Service at 7;00pm. Celebration of life will be 10:00am Monday March 18, 2024 at New Life Church.

In lieu of flowers, please consider supporting Avera@Home Hospice or Alzheimer’s Association.

Maynard V. Wagner was born April 5, 1936 at Onida, SD to William Wagner and Mary Elizabeth (Wilcox) Wagner. He attended Troy School for eight years and graduated from Agar High School in 1955 where he participated in basketball and track. He also attended Boys State in Aberdeen.

He joined the Army in September, 1955 and was honorably discharged in September of 1957. He was a scraper operator for Beckman Construction Co. during which time he helped build the interstate around Sioux Falls, SD. It was there that he met his wife, LaDonna Lienau, who was attending Nettleton Business College. They were married on September 3, 1960 and lived in Pierre, SD until 1965 when they moved to the Jim Sutton Ranch where he was a ranch hand, did repair work and welding. They then moved to Las Vegas for a short time where he worked as a mechanic. They moved back to the Onida area and he worked for John E. (Matt) Sutton from 1968 to 1975 doing farm and ranch repair, maintaining irrigation systems, welding and working with livestock. They then moved back to Pierre where he worked mainly with irrigation systems. He then operated Wagner’s Welding Service doing jobs in several rural counties and in Fort Pierre starting in 1979. A proud accomplishment was extending boat ramps for the Corps of Engineers (working alongside Ken Jeffries of Fort Pierre) when the Missouri River was so low. He was a Mr. Fix-it and could do anything with a piece of metal.

In 1993 he purchased Mory’s Pumping service and pumped septic tanks and added portable toilets to the business. In 1997, this was incorporated as The Royal Flush and he operated that business until it was sold and he retired in 2015. A few of the highlights of the business was providing portable toilets for the World War II Memorial, helping with the honoring of the Vietnam War Memorial, and the Commemorative Fort Pierre to Deadwood Trail Ride where he spent 17 days on the trail. He then got the horse driving bug and purchased Norwegian Fjords to drive which he thoroughly enjoyed. He went on a trail ride with his horses from Yankton to Pierre in 2014. He and Willie Cowan also helped to organize smaller trail rides around the Fort Pierre and Stanley County area for the Western Heritage Festival.

As a couple, Maynard and LaDonna enjoyed square dancing all over the state and helped to set a world record for the most square dancers under one caller in Seattle, WA in 1979. They also enjoyed Friday night dinners, playing cards and board games.

One of his greatest enjoyments was spending time watching his grandchildren Amber and Austin in their various activities as they grew up and taking them to the Black Hills on vacation. He couldn’t have been more proud of them and their accomplishments until they provided him with his great grandchildren.

Maynard was a member of Onida Masonic Lodge #173, Onida, SD for over 60 years.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife of 63 years, LaDonna; one sister, Deloris (Harry) Vernon, Muscatine, Iowa; one son, Danny Wagner, Fort Pierre; daughter Linda (Jeff) Oyen, Crooks, SD and Christine Wagner, Fort Pierre; one granddaughter, Amber (Robert) Grode, Omaha, NE; one grandson, Austin (Mariah) Oyen, Iowa City, IA; two great-grandsons, Ridge Robert Grode and Adler Timothy Oyen and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Raymond Wagner and Leonard (Tucker) Wagner, a sister Darlene Blumler and great-granddaughter Joslyn Elizabeth Grode.

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