Obituary for John H. Mendenhall
John Mendenhall, age 80, of Watertown and formerly of Clark, SD, passed away on Wednesday, March 22, 2023 in Watertown.
There will be a visitation from 5pm to 7pm on April 3, 2023 at the Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel in Watertown.
There will be a celebration of John’s life at the Elmwood Christian Church, 311 N 5th St Elmwood NE; on April 5, 2023 at 2pm. Inurnment will follow at the Elmwood Cemetery in Elmwood.
John Hadsell Mendenhall was born on January 21, 1943 to Morris G. and Inez (Olsen) Mendenhall in Lincoln, Nebraska. He grew up on the family farm near Elmwood, Nebraska where he attended school and graduated from Elmwood Public School. John was active in football, basketball, track and baseball in his school years.
John was united in marriage to Kathryn Y. Elliott in November of 1962 at Elmwood. Kathryn and John were blessed with their three sons, Dennis, Keith and Wayne.
The couple purchased the land of John’s grandparents, William and Teresa Mendenhall near Elmwood where they farmed and milked cows. John also helped his parents on their farm. In 1973 the family moved to Lake Traverse near Browns Valley, Minnesota where they owned a fishing resort. In 1978 they moved to a dairy farm near Summit, South Dakota and later moved and farmed in the South Shore area. Afterwards they moved to a farm near Waubay where they had a dairy operation and raised hogs. John also did custom hay grinding for farmers in the Watertown area. Being a farmer and a hard worker, John was a “jack of all trades” and took on other jobs such as working at Stromseth Construction and Minnesota Rubber in Watertown, Webster Feed Store and Dakota Chips in Clark.
John lived in other areas which included Marion, North Dakota, Smith Center, Kansas, Clark, South Dakota, Payson, Arizona and the last four years was at Jenkins Living Center in Watertown, South Dakota.
He loved to farm and worked at various other farms as well as his own. He also enjoyed rodeos, gardening, fishing and visiting with everyone.
John is survived by his sons, Dennis (Barbara) Mendenhall of Watertown, SD; Keith Mendenhall of Boswell, OK and Wayne (Theresa) Mendenhall of Summit, SD; 12 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Morris and Inez; and his wife, Kathryn on September 25, 2015.
There will be a visitation from 5pm to 7pm on April 3, 2023 at the Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel in Watertown.
There will be a celebration of John’s life at the Elmwood Christian Church, 311 N 5th St Elmwood NE; on April 5, 2023 at 2pm. Inurnment will follow at the Elmwood Cemetery in Elmwood.
John Hadsell Mendenhall was born on January 21, 1943 to Morris G. and Inez (Olsen) Mendenhall in Lincoln, Nebraska. He grew up on the family farm near Elmwood, Nebraska where he attended school and graduated from Elmwood Public School. John was active in football, basketball, track and baseball in his school years.
John was united in marriage to Kathryn Y. Elliott in November of 1962 at Elmwood. Kathryn and John were blessed with their three sons, Dennis, Keith and Wayne.
The couple purchased the land of John’s grandparents, William and Teresa Mendenhall near Elmwood where they farmed and milked cows. John also helped his parents on their farm. In 1973 the family moved to Lake Traverse near Browns Valley, Minnesota where they owned a fishing resort. In 1978 they moved to a dairy farm near Summit, South Dakota and later moved and farmed in the South Shore area. Afterwards they moved to a farm near Waubay where they had a dairy operation and raised hogs. John also did custom hay grinding for farmers in the Watertown area. Being a farmer and a hard worker, John was a “jack of all trades” and took on other jobs such as working at Stromseth Construction and Minnesota Rubber in Watertown, Webster Feed Store and Dakota Chips in Clark.
John lived in other areas which included Marion, North Dakota, Smith Center, Kansas, Clark, South Dakota, Payson, Arizona and the last four years was at Jenkins Living Center in Watertown, South Dakota.
He loved to farm and worked at various other farms as well as his own. He also enjoyed rodeos, gardening, fishing and visiting with everyone.
John is survived by his sons, Dennis (Barbara) Mendenhall of Watertown, SD; Keith Mendenhall of Boswell, OK and Wayne (Theresa) Mendenhall of Summit, SD; 12 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Morris and Inez; and his wife, Kathryn on September 25, 2015.