John was born April 27, 1943, in Sioux Falls, SD, to Milton and Eldene Askew. He graduated high school from Sioux Falls Cathedral in 1961. After high school, John worked for his father at Askew Music in Sioux Falls until hitting the road with his own band, Bluez Beri Jam, playing under the stage name of Johnny Q.

John went to work at the Huron Music Center in Huron, SD, where he met Hank Zeigler. In 1973, John moved to Pierre where he and Hank opened A&Z Music, a business they operated successfully for more than 30 years. A&Z Music was inducted into the South Dakota Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in April of 2017.

John married Dawn Riegel March 20, 1987, in Deadwood, SD. John and Dawn spent their retirement years in Wichita, KS, where he continued to play music at a local level. John was a devoted husband, father, uncle, and grandfather, and a very talented musician. He was also an avid Minnesota Vikings fan. Throughout John's life, he never knew a stranger.

John Milton Askew, formerly of Pierre, SD, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, January 8, 2018, in Wichita, KS.

John is survived by his wife, Dawn, of Sturgis; two children, daughter, Lynda (Scott) Pruett of Keenesburg, CO, and son, Tom (Connie) Askew of Olathe, KS; grandsons, Nick Askew and Mason Askew; step-daughter, Chris (Rick) Jordan of Sturgis; step-son, Troy (Christine) Riegel of Rapid City; grandson, Dustin Jordan; granddaughter, Shannon (Kyle) Brown; grandson, Stone Riegel; great-grandchildren, Isaac Jordan, Christine Jordan, Wyatt Brown, and Allie Brown; nieces and nephews, Pam (Ed) Wilds, Brad Hastings, Brian (Meg) Hastings, Bart (Tammy) Hastings, Barbara (Steve) Kildahl, and Beth Bolstad (Tim Johnson); and countless friends.

John was preceded in death by his parents, Milton and Eldene; and his sister and brother-in-law, Donna and Ken Hastings.

The memorial service will be held at 2:00 p.m. Monday, February 5, 2018, at Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis with Pastor John Williamson officiating. Burial will follow at Bear Butte Cemetery.

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