Michael John Ogren, 68, of Spearfish, SD, passed away suddenly at the Sanford Medical Center in Sioux Falls on December 26, 2020.

Mike was born April 28, 1952, to Dean and Laurel (Golseth) Ogren of DeSmet. He grew up in Bryant and graduated from Bryant High School in 1970. He always considered Bryant his hometown and liked to come back to visit occasionally, keeping in touch with Bryant friends and family.

After high school, Mike attended North Dakota State School of Science in Wahpeton, ND, majoring in drafting. In 1972, he joined the U.S. Army. He was stationed in Aschaffenburg, Germany, where he was in charge of the communications department of Delta Company. He handled all the communications for the company at home base and in the field. Corporal Ogren was honorably discharged in 1975. He remained a member of Bryant Legion Post 37. He was very proud of his time in the military.

After the service, Mike found a career in the plumbing industry, beginning as apprentice plumber for Currier Plumbing and Heating in DeSmet and becoming a licensed journeyman while working for Sheesley Plumbing in Rapid City. In 1985, he joined the staff at Wolff's Plumbing and Heating in Spearfish, and retired in 2018.

He married Wyola Lawrence in October of 1991. Mike was never so proud as the day when their daughter Mika was born in February of 1993. He was a doting and attentive dad, teaching his daughter such lessons as whatever you decide to do, be the best at it; live within your means; the importance of timely and constant car maintenance; always return what you borrow and in better condition than when you took it; dress for the occasion; and family is the most important thing in life. He cherished the day he became a grandpa when his grandson, Quinten Michael Hess, was born.

Mike enjoyed yearly family vacations in the motorhome, camping every weekend in the Black Hills, boating and helping Mika with school projects. He liked "dinking around" in the garage and watching the Denver Broncos. He took pride in completing big projects at work. Since his retirement, he has spent time at Lake Poinsett and more boating in the Hills, walking the bike path in Spearfish with grandpup, Winston, and hiding hand-painted rocks along the way, being with his grandson, doing projects with Mika, and tinkering in the garage. He really liked his breakfast foods and sweets.

His family and friends will remember Mike as being loving, knowledgeable, supportive, handy, ornery, soft-hearted, hardworking, practical, proud, patriotic, and so much more. He will be forever missed.

Grateful for sharing in his life are his wife, Wyola; daughter, Mika (Zach) Hess; grandson, Quinten Michael, all of Sturgis; stepdaughter, Michelle (Charlie Herrick) Willson of Rapid City; sisters and their families, Stacia (Bryan) Sneesby of Lake Preston, and Shelly (Eric) Hanson of Emmetsburg, IA; uncle, Wayne (Beth) Ogren of Bellingham, WA; aunt, Sonja (Walt) Iverson of Toronto, SD; and stepmother, Billie Baird of DeSmet.

Mike was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorial services will be held at 11:30 a.m. on Friday, May 7, 2021 at LifeSpring Wesleyan Church in Sturgis with Pastor Matt Shulaw officiating. Committal services with military honors will be held at Black Hills National Cemetery.

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