Dennis Lanners, age 75, of Clear Lake, SD passed away on Saturday, October 5, 2019 at the Sanford Clear Lake Medical Center. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30am on Thursday, October 10th at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Clear Lake. Visitation will be held 5 to 7pm on Wednesday, October 9th at St. Mary’s Catholic Church with a prayer service at 7pm and Rosary to follow. Visitation will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will be at Lakeview Cemetery in Clear Lake. Houseman Funeral Home is entrusted with the arrangements.
Dennis Peter Lanners was born to Alex and Regina (Tholkes) Lanners on April 10, 1944 in Omar Township, Yellow Medicine County, Canby, MN. He attended school in St. Leo, MN for the first 8 years and then his freshman year he entered St. John’s University at Cottageville, MN. Dennis came back to the farm and finished his schooling and graduated from Canby High School in 1962. He farmed near St. Leo until 1966 and also worked for the ASC Office for five years in Clarkfield.
On October 1, 1966 Dennis was married to Lynda Sterzinger and following their marriage they moved to a farm NW of Clear Lake on March 1, 1967. They were blessed with two children: James Dennis and Diana Michele. In 1969, Dennis started selling Archer Oil and did so until 2008 along with being a county district manager for many years. During that time, he farmed as well. Dennis sold Form-A-Feed for 25 years and also sold Garst Seed Corn until 2008 and he personally got to know David Garst. For seven years he sold aerial photos for Morning Star Photography and custom fed cattle.
Dennis’ first love was his children and their activities. He loved to wrestle, and he enjoyed watching his nephews and Jimmy wrestle over the years. He enjoyed watching Diana play basketball and on the weekends the family would load up and head to the rodeos during high school and college years. Recently he loved to go watch his grandchildren in all their sports activities especially rodeo. Dennis and Lynda loved to travel especially taking cruises that he would be awarded for his sales. The Vikings were his Sunday afternoon outings for many years. He also enjoyed dancing, playing marbles and cards and going out to eat with family and friends.
He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church where he served as an usher. He was President of The Eastern Dakota 4-H Rodeo for a number of years.
Grateful for having shared Dennis’ life is his bride of 53 years, Lynda Lanners, Clear Lake; children: James (Amanda Schofield) Lanners, Clear Lake and Diana (Jeff) Grill, Caputa, SD; five grandchildren: Cheyanne (Gregory) Rauschendorfer, Brandon Nisich and Chance, Taylor and Cade Grill; two great-grandchildren: Gentry and Sutton Rauschendorfer; two siblings: Sister Mary Edwin Lanners, Mankato, MN and Ralph (Christine) Lanners, Altoona, WI; brother-in-law, Vincent Sterzinger; sister-in-law, Karen Sterzinger; numerous nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
He is preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Edwin (Joan) Lanners; two nieces: Carol Lanners and Tammy Sterzinger; one nephew, Todd Sterzinger; and one brother-in-law, Donald Sterzinger.