Dwayne Atkins

Dwayne Atkins, 85, of Tea, SD, passed away Tuesday, October 27, 2020 at his home, surrounded by family, under hospice care. Dwayne Carroll Atkins was born on June 11, 1935, near Lennox, SD, the son of Carroll and Ann (Buus) Atkins. He grew up in the Lennox/Tea area. He attended rural schools and then graduated from Lennox High School in 1953. He went on to attend vocational school in Kansas City for electronics repair. On November 3, 1955 he was united in marriage to Jerene Heinssen, at Saint Nicholas Catholic Church, Tea. The couple lived briefly in Sioux Falls and then lived in the Tea area, purchasing their home farm in 1969. Dwayne was a farmer his entire life. He was also a truck driver who eventually owned and operated his own trucking business. He had also worked in television repair. Dwayne was an active and faithful member of the Saint Nicholas Church where he had served on the Parish Council Board, Finance Committee and Youth Group Committee. He served on several boards, including Great Planes Ethanol Board, SD Grain Dealers Association and the SD Truckers Association. Dwayne and Jerene were honored to have been chosen as Ma and Pa Teapot for the annual Tea Teapot Days celebration. Dwayne enjoyed hunting, fishing, snowmobiling and cards. He and Jerene were members of the Card Club for over 40 years. Dwayne would play Pinochle everyday, except Sunday, at Ralph's Garage in Tea. In addition to his travels trucking, Dwayne and Jerene traveled extensively throughout the U.S. and abroad, taking trips to Europe and the Holy Land. Most of all, Dwayne was a devoted husband, father and grandfather, who deeply loved his family. Besides his parents, Dwayne was preceded in death by a daughter, Michelle Maynor in 1995 and one brother, Darwyn Atkins in 2016. Grateful for having shared his life are his wife of nearly 65 years, Jerene; children: Sharon Metzger, Tea, Cindy Atkins, Sioux Falls, Charles (Lori) Atkins, Worthing, Carol Atkins, Stewartville, MN and Brian (Lisa) Atkins, Tea; 19 grandchildren; 45 great-grandchildren and a host of other relatives and friends. Public visitation, due to health concerns, without the family present, will be 5 to 7 p.m. Sunday, November 1 at Dindot-Klusmann Funeral Home, Lennox. Private family services will be held at a later date at Saint Nicolas Catholic Church, Tea. In lieu of flowers, memorials to the Saint Nicholas Youth Group are preferred.

Dwayne Atkins

June 11, 1935 - October 27, 2020

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