Wayne A. Dietrich

Wayne A. Dietrich, age 73, died at his home west of Hermosa, SD, on Wednesday, Oct. 26, 2011.

Wayne was born Feb. 11, 1938, in Mclaughlin, SD to Julius and Edna (Schlaht) Dietrich. He attended school in Mclaughlin, SD, where he met his wife of 55 years, Janet Eby. They were married Oct. 26, 1956. They ranched northeast of Mclaughlin for 43 years where they raised three children. In 1999, they sold the ranch and retired to the Black Hills where they lived for the past 12 years.

Wayne’s interests included ranching, rodeoing, collecting western memorabilia, breaking horses, and in his retirement, playing cards with his many friends. Wayne could accomplish anything he set his mind to including breaking horses, flying an airplane, riding bulls, and building roads with his bobcat on the land he developed in Box Canyon.

You could always count on Wayne. He will be missed by all of his friends and family. He had a fun loving spirit and loved to make others laugh with his jokes and pranks.

Wayne is survived by his wife Jan; three children, Todd Dietrich (Dee Ann), Tracy Lessin (Tom), and Trudy Lahren (Kevin); and five grandchildren: Tyson, Nick, Kenzie, Tomi and Sami; one brother Dale Dietrich (JoAnn); and one sister Marlene Howe (Don).

He was preceded in death by his mother and father.