Dennis Gene DeGeest
August 18, 1945 - February 20, 2020

​A celebration of life for Dennis Gene DeGeest, 74, of Plankinton, SD, was held from 4 to 6 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020, at the Plankinton School Gymnasium in Plankinton, SD.
A prayer service was held at 5:30 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 23, 2020, at the Plankinton School Gymnasium in Plankinton, SD.
Burial will be at Armour, SD, at a later date.
Dennis Gene DeGeest died Thursday, Feb. 20, 2020, at his home in Plankinton, SD.
Dennis Gene DeGeest was born Aug. 18, 1945, at Parkston, SD, to Peter Franklin and Nellie (Reed) DeGeest.
He grew up in Armour, SD, attending grade school and graduating from Armour High School of Armour, SD.
Upon graduation, Dennis pursued a lifetime of educating the youth. He attended Southern State Teachers College in Springfield, SD, and graduated with a bachelor of teaching in 1967. During college, he taught as a student teacher in Tripp, SD. Dennis began his teaching career in Plankinton, SD, and taught for 45 years until retirement in 2012. He taught language arts and government, coached basketball and started the girls track team during his time at Plankinton, SD.
After retiring, he was on the city council and continued on as a county commissioner.
Dennis was an avid craftsman, painter and Atlanta Braves and Dakota Wesleyan University of Mitchell fan. He loved watching all types of sports and collecting baseball cards.
Dennis also loved canning pickles, salsa and other vegetables.
Grateful for having shared his life are his loving wife of 48 years, Kitti DeGeest; his children, Natasha Thiry and husband, Jason of Kennebec, SD, Nathan DeGeest of Mitchell, SD, and Natia DeGeest of Plankinton, SD;
eight grandchildren; a sister, Ruth Taylor of Armour, SD; a brother, Vern DeGeest of Corsica, SD; a brother-in-law, Billy Sargent of Greybull, WY, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Peter Franklin and Nellie DeGeest; his brothers, Dale DeGeest and Roy DeGeest and wife, Jan; a sister, Mary Califf; his mother-in-law and father-in-law, Waneta and Burdette;
his brothers-in-law, Mike Sargent, Rodney Sargent and Melvin Taylor and his sisters-in-law, Anita Pickenpaugh and Artice DeGeest.
Bittner Funeral Chapel of Mitchell, SD, was in charge of arrangements.