Dean Arnold Vetter

June 21, 1937
July 7, 2018

Dean Arnold Vetter was born June 21, 1937, in Burtrum, MN, to Adam and Laura (Shinabarger) Vetter. When Dean was starting school, Adam decided to move his family to his home town, Bison, SD. Dean graduated from Bison High School in 1955. After high school, he worked construction in Minnesota.

He married Marlene Inghram on December 23, 1958, in Sturgis, SD. They started out their married life living in Rapid City working for Pool's, hauling trailer houses and enjoyed being a dad to his two daughters, Rosa and Velva. They then moved to Faith in 1961, and he went to work as a mechanic. While living in Faith, Sonja, Arnold, and Jacky completed the family. Times were tough feeding five kids, so Dean decided to venture out on his own, moving to Newell to start his own business, Butch's Garage, in 1964. In 1968, he went to work for the Newell School District as head bus driver and mechanic.

As time went on, Dean went to work for Butte County Motors selling cars. In 1977, they moved to Belle Fourche. Dad's next adventure was going to North Dakota and working in the oil fields until they shut down. He then joined Marlene and Velva in the café business. In 1983, the three of them ventured back to South Dakota, leasing a place call the Ridge on HWY 34 going to Pierre. When their lease ended, they moved back to Belle Fourche and founded Mom's Drive Inn in Sturgis in 1986. After the death of his wife, Marlene, he retired to just manage his trailer court. In 1998, he married Elmie Bartel and in 2005, he sold the trailer court and moved to Watertown, NY. While living there, Elmie passed away and he returned to Sturgis.

As his health declined from diabetes, he moved to Rapid City to live with his eldest daughter, Rosa, but if he told the story, it was to take care of her! He was a kind and caring husband, father, grandfather, uncle, brother, and friend.

Dean Arnold Vetter, 81, of Rapid City, died Saturday, July 7, 2018, at Rapid City Regional Hospital.

Dean is survived by his five children, Rosa Herman, Rapid City, Velva (Rod) Retzlaff, Newell, Sonja (John) Welke, Sturgis, Arnold Vetter, Rapid City, and Jacky (Bob) Good, Spotsylvania, VA; sister, Joyce (Walt) Ballard; brother-in-law, Ace (Karen) Inghram; sister-law, Cathy Inghram; and 17 grandchildren, Monica (Jayme) McGee, Eric (Denise) Quenzer, Jenna (Colonta) White, Jon Nelson, Timmey (Ana) Johnston, James Johnston, Mirrisa Retzlaff, Alysia Retzlaff, Jennifer (Steve) Froning, Lori (Dennis) Hansen, Glenda Welke, Matthew Welke, Gary (Alicia) Vetter, Bryan Vetter, Nicole Dean, Matthew Shaw, and Jade (John) Ritchie. He is also survived by 41 great-grandchildren (4th generation); 4 great-great-grandchildren (5th generation); and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Adam and Laura Vetter; his wife of 38 years, Marlene Vetter; his second wife, Elmie Vetter; sister, Janet Smith; mother-in-law, Mabel Inghram; brothers-in-law, Robert Smith, Bunky Inghram, and Charles Ryder; and daughter-in-law, Cindy Vetter.

Visitation will be Thursday, July 12, 2018, from 5-7 p.m. at Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis.

Funeral services will be at 2:00 p.m. on Friday, July 13, 2018, at First Presbyterian Church in Sturgis with Rev. Denzel Nonhof officiating. Interment will follow at Bear Butte Cemetery in Sturgis.

A memorial has been established Children's Hospital of Colorado (PICU/TRA Trauma Team) and Ayden's Allstars (ICO Gary or Alicia Vetter).

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