David M. Linngren, age 78, of Watertown, passed away Friday, July 15, 2022, at Jenkins Living Center in Watertown following an extended illness.
A visitation will be held from 5:00 – 7:00 pm on August 4, 2022, at Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel.
Funeral services will be at 1:00 pm on August 5, 2022, at the Tabor Lutheran Church in Strandburg, with Reverend Elmer Brinkman officiating.
Interment will be at Bethany Baptist Cemetery in Strandburg.
Honorary pallbearers are Dan Albertsen, Harvey Bue, Kay Christianson, Dave Edison, Paul Hinderaker, Bob Jostad, Jim Mahowald, Helen Miller, Sid Morrison, Harley Peterson, Glenn Robel, Lynn Schaefer, Chad Sherrill, Wally Schmitt, Mike Strom, Frank Welch, Bob Welch, and nephew and nieces Dan Johnson, Karen Johnson and Ann Rud.
David M. Linngren was born on July 27, 1943, to Arvid and Anna (Seim) Linngren of Strandburg, South Dakota. He grew up enjoying the benefits of small town living and a large extended family. In 1958, Dave and his family planned for him to move to Hayti to play high school basketball for his brother, Wayne, who was then the head coach at Hayti. Before that move was completed, Wayne passed away unexpectedly. As a result, Dave and his parents moved to Watertown and he played basketball for Watertown and Coach Jim Marking. Dave was a proud member of the 1959 state champion Watertown Arrow basketball team, which was honored as a South Dakota High School Basketball Hall of Fame Team of Excellence in 2019. He continued his basketball career at Northern State University while pursuing a degree in education.
Dave married his high school sweetheart, Patricia Welch, on August 21, 1965, in the First United Methodist Church in Watertown. They were married 55 years before Patti’s death in 2020.
Following graduation from NSU, Dave was a coach and teacher in the Watertown school district. He later obtained his Masters Degree in education from SDSU. Dave served as a junior high teacher, guidance counselor and assistant principal in the Watertown school system for almost two decades. Additionally, during summer breaks while with the school district, he managed the Watertown pools for several years and did construction jobs involving the building of garages, decks and other miscellaneous projects. During his time managing the pools in the summer, his children learned to swim with his preferred (and luckily successful) “sink or swim” method.
Dave went on to serve as the Director of Human Services at Telelect Corporation (now Terex) for ten years before joining Tower Systems as general manager. He retired from Tower Systems in 2011. He enjoyed the relationships he developed over the years working with the people of both Telelect and Tower Systems.
Dave’s continuing passion for education was evident in his high expectations for students. He was deeply committed to making sure every child had a chance to succeed through a solid education and opportunities to excel at their strengths. After leaving an active role in education, he devoted 18 more years of his life to serving on the Watertown School Board, one of the longest tenures in the history of the school district. During Dave’s time on the school board, he was a part of planning and approving the construction of the new middle school and several expansion projects at Lake Area Technical College. He was named the Associated School Boards of South Dakota Outstanding School Board Member in 2010. He was also a devoted Watertown Arrow fan, attending or listening to athletic events every chance he had.
Dave was an active member of the First United Methodist Church in Watertown, but held a special place in his heart for his childhood church, the Bethel Baptist Church in Strandburg. He served on the Bethany Baptist Cemetery Board until his death. He also volunteered with Patti for Watertown PACH and Meals on Wheels after his retirement.
Dave was an avid outdoorsman, enjoying fishing at the River with fellow guidance counselor and assistant principal Wally Schmitt, and then later duck and goose hunting locally with family and friends too numerous to mention. Later in life the number of birds brought home dwindled, but the conversation and camaraderie in the field meant more and more to him, especially his time with Dr. Mac Miller during Mac’s last years of hunting.
He also enjoyed golfing, woodworking and tending to his flower beds and yard. Even after he was no longer actively involved with construction projects, he maintained his large assortment of tools in his garage and was often asked why it was necessary to keep 25+ hammers hanging on the wall. He never had a good answer but also never parted with any of them.
Dave was firm but fair, and a man who got straight to the point. He was famous for telling family, friends, and students to “go with their strengths.” He could be blunt in his assessment if one chose to do something that was not a strength, but was also a strong motivator of untapped talents.
Dave is survived by his children Tom Linngren of Watertown, SD, Jennifer (Bob) Stalley of Pierre, SD, Heidi Linngren of Rapid City, SD, and David Linngren of Castle Pines, CO; grandchildren Michael Linngren (Sioux Falls, SD), George Stalley (Pierre, SD), Madison Fuegen (Rapid City, SD) and Steele (Justice) Fuegen (Rapid City, SD), and Austin Linngren, Dakota Linngren, Mason Linngren, and Kamilla Linngren (Castle Pines, CO); sister Carol Ann (David) Solberg of Delano, MN; brothers-in-law Robert Welch of Watertown, SD, and Frank (Esther) Welch of DeForest, WI; and sister-in-law Kaylyn Welch of Watertown, SD.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Patti; brother Wayne; son-in-law Lance Fuegen; brothers-in-law Harold Johnson, Kenneth Engwer, Donald Welch, Harold Welch, Clifford Welch, and Clayton Welch; and sisters-in-law Norma (Wayne) Linngren Robish, Frances (Kenneth) Engwer, Mary (Harold) Welch, Mary (Clayton) Welch, and Mary (Robert) Welch.
Dave’s family extends their gratitude and thanks to Jenkins Living Center, 200 Maple Place and Stoneybrook Assisted Living for their care of Dave during the various stages of his extended illness. Your care and patience are greatly appreciated.
Memorials are suggested to: Arrow Education Foundation, Bethany Baptist Cemetery, and Watertown PACH.
Condolences to the family can be mailed to Jennifer Stalley, 4805 Lookout Drive, Pierre, SD 57501.