Donald Alfred Juntunen Bryant, South Dakota

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Funeral Service 2:00P.M., Wednesday, April 18, 2007 St. Martin's Evangelical Lutheran Church Watertown, South Dakota

Visitation 4PM to 7PM Tuesday at Geise Funeral Chapel in Estelline, SD

Interment Hillcrest Cemetery Estelline, South Dakota

Donald Alfred Juntunen was born on July 4, 1931, in rural Hamlin County, the son of Dave and Emma (Kangas) Juntunen. He died on Friday, April 13, 2007, at the Prairie Lakes Hospital in Watertown, SD at the age of 75.

Donald attended grade school at Dixon township and was a graduate of Bryant High School in 1949. He then entered the United States Air Force and served four years during the Korean Conflict. Following his discharge from the military, he continued his education at SDSU in Brookings, SD. He was united in marriage to Betty Ann Blumeyer on June 17, 1956, in Estelline, SD, where they resided for several months. They then moved to rural Vienna, SD in 1956, where they began farming. In 1992, they moved into Bryant,  they continued to farm. Don later semi-retired, but continued with his sheep. He began the registered sheep business in 1960.

Don was a member of St. Martin's Evangelical Lutheran Church in Watertown, SD. He enjoyed raising sheep and attending many sheep shows and sales. He especially enjoyed watching his grandchildren in various activities.

Thankful to have shared in his life are his wife Betty Ann of Bryant, SD; two sons Duane Juntunen, David Juntunen (Colleen) all of Vienna, SD; two daughters Gwen Taylor (James) of Estelline, SD, Cathy Popham (Robert) of Hayti, SD; 12 grandchildren; one sister Mary Ann Wendling (Dale) of Lake Norden, SD; one brother Curtis Juntunen (Kay) of Apache Junction, AZ; and a host of relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother Burton and his wife Nadine.