Donald Sweeter

Donald Gene Sweeter, age 89, of Worthing, SD, passed away April 28, 2023, at Sanford USD Medical Center, Sioux Falls, SD. Don was born on the family farm on September 8, 1933, the son of Harry and Mollie (Meyer) Sweeter. He grew up attending Nelson District #34 rural school. At age 14 he began farming full time, and at the same age, became a cattle buyer. In 1956, he graduated from Reisch Auction School in Mason City, IA, which led to a lifelong career as an auctioneer. In addition to farming, Don conducted thousands of farm, livestock, machinery, personal property and benefit auctions. He auctioned over 40 years at the Menno Livestock Auction and assisted with the Lincoln County 4-H livestock sale for 60 years. On June 5, 1959, he was united in marriage to Helen Hanson at West Prairie Lutheran Church. The couple made their home on the family farm for over 63 years, where they raised three children. Don was baptized at Second Reformed Church, then became a member of West Prairie Lutheran Church, where he served on the church council and taught Sunday School. He was a member and served as a board officer for various organizations, including the Lennox Lions, Lennox Area Community Fund, Lynn Township, South Lincoln Rural Water and Lewis & Clark Rural Water. He was most active and proud of his service in the SD Auctioneers Association, and in 2004 was inducted into the SD Auctioneers Hall of Fame. Don's hobby was work. He was a people person who had a great sense of humor, loved to tell stories, jokes and laugh. He was a devoted husband, father and grandfather who deeply loved his family. Don enjoyed giving the blessing at family gatherings and made it known that "Jesus has been with me my whole life!" Don was preceded in death by his parents, Harry and Mollie Sweeter; infant sister Carol Ann; sister Elaine Farmer; brothers Gerhard, Elmer, Fred, and Harold Sweeter; and his father and mother-in-law, Helmer and Margaret Hanson. Grateful for having shared his life are his wife of over 63 years, Helen; children Jeff (Lisa) Sweeter, Lennox, Lynne (Jay) White, Worthing, and Jon (Amy) Sweeter, Sioux Falls; grandchildren, Chelsea (TJ) Byl, Brittany (Jason) Haan, Sydney (Alex) Woods, Andrew (Emily) Sweeter, Jackson White, Jon White, Kathryn Sweeter; sister Dorothy VanBockern, Canton, sisters-in-law: Bernice Sweeter, Canton, Molly Sweeter, Milbank, and Myrna (Jeff) Ryder, Fond du Lac, WI, as well as a host of other relatives and friends. Services will begin at 10:00 a.m. Wednesday May 3 at West Prairie Lutheran Church, rural Lennox. Visitation, with the family present, also at West Prairie Lutheran Church, will be 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, May 2. Service can be viewed via the West Prairie Lutheran Church facebook page.

Donald Sweeter

September 8, 1933 - April 28, 2023

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