MILLER, SD – Rev. Don Gaarder passed away Sept. 13, 2025 at Good Samaritan Luther Manor, with additional care provided by Sanford Hospice. He was 91 years old.

Donald Eugene Gaarder was born December 3, 1933 to Hans and Alma (Hanson) Gaarder in Great Falls, MT. He grew up on the family farm near Fairfield and in 1951 he graduated from Fairfield High School, where he lettered in four sports and was president of the student body. He was elected president of the state Future Farmers of America, which led him to attend two years of college at Montana State University where he lettered in three sports. He transferred to Pacific Lutheran University for his junior and senior years. There he lettered in three sports, was active in student government, was Homecoming King and most importantly met Alta Prestbye, the love of his life.

Don and Alta were married August 18, 1956 in Kalispell, MT. Don attended Luther Seminary in St. Paul, MN and was ordained into Lutheran ministry in 1959. For the next 30 years, Don and Alta served parishes in Grenora, ND, Britton, SD and Pierre SD. In Grenora, Don helped complete the renovation of the church building and was active in community leadership. While serving in Britton, Don held leadership roles on the boards of Bethesda Homes and Lake Region Mental Health. He also served as vice president and then president of the SD District Council of the ELCA and served on the Augustana Board of Regents for 12 years. In Pierre he helped with the building project for the new church sanctuary and also served on the boards of Oahe Inc. and Value Village. After retiring from ministry in 1989, Don began his second career, selling accident/life insurance and long-term care insurance. He was active in the Lions and Rotary Clubs and once he retired, he spent many hours volunteering. In 2010 he was honored to be Volunteer of the Year for the Pierre and Ft. Pierre communities.

In 2017, Don and Alta moved to the Good Samaritan Prairie Creek senior living community in Sioux Falls. Because of his desire to help others, Don continued to volunteer for Sanford Health and was honored as Volunteer of the Month and received the Spirit of Volunteerism award. In 2024 he was recognized by the ELCA for 65 years since ordination and he was selected as an honorary member of the Augustana Alumni Association.

Don was active in baseball in Grenora and Britton and was an avid golfer in Britton, Pierre and Sioux Falls. In 2023, his last year of golfing, he was pleased to achieve his second life-time hole-in-one! He was an avid Twin’s fan, and enjoyed watching those games all his life. Don and Alta enjoyed traveling and spent several weeks golfing and relaxing in Arizona and California each winter and in Montana each summer with family and friends.

Survivors include his daughter Sonia, son-in-law Randy Bury of Sioux Falls and their sons Jacob (Rosie) and Lucas (Cally) of Denver, CO; daughter Karla Wiessner of Forest Lake, MN; son Michael, daughter-in-law Mindy, and their son TJ of Marshalltown, IA and their son Devon Nelson of Davenport, IA; sister-in-law Inez Gaarder of Great Falls, MT and many cherished nieces and nephews. Don was preceded in death by Alta, his beloved wife of nearly 68 years, an infant son, Daryl, his parents, brother Harold Gaarder, twin sister Donna Underdal and her husband Ted, grandson Christopher and son-in-law Paul Wiessner.

Visitation with family present will be held at Holy Cross Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls on Monday, Sept. 22 from 1:30-3:00, followed by the memorial service at 3:00. The service will be live-streamed at https://www.facebook.com/hcsiouxfalls/

Distribution of ashes will take place at Woodlawn Cemetery for the family that morning. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Good Samaritan Foundation or the charity of your choice.

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