Dennis D. Molgaard passed away at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on March 11, 2014 after suffering a spinal cord injury.
Dennis was the first son of Fredrick Enoch Molgaard and Marjorie June Heikens. He was born June 28, 1946 in Storm Lake, Iowa. He graduated from Storm Lake High School in 1964. After high school, he went to Buena Vista College for one year.
Dennis enlisted in the United States Army in 1966. He was trained at Fort McClellan, Alabama in the Chemical lab division and spent part of his service in San Francisco and Alaska. After the Army, Denny went back to college and got his Masters Degree in Mathematics. Denny supported himself while going to college by working at Radio Shack. While living in California, Denny did pyrotechnics and firework shows during the summer months with a close friend.
Dennis taught at several colleges including California State University Los Angeles and Cal Poly. He taught Mathematics, Calculus and Computer Science for 37 years. Denny enjoyed traveling. One summer he traveled from California to Iowa, to Ohio and New Jersey visiting his siblings and their families. He would come back to Iowa every Christmas, and often also in September during college break. Denny enjoyed playing tennis, watching MASH and Star Trek, collecting Danish, U.S. and Canadian stamps, photography, and playing chess and board games with family. His sisters and brothers enjoyed playing Trivia against him, and with three against one he would still win. Denny had a great mind.
Denny was diagnosed with MS and in 2008 he moved to Storm Lake to be near his sister Deb and family.
He was preceded in death by his parents; twin sisters, Sandra and Susan; grandparents, Enock and Elisa Molgaard and George and Edna Heikens; and many aunts and uncles.
Survivors include siblings, Diane Panfile, Deborah (Jack) Anderson, and Robert (Cherry) Molgarrd; nieces and nephews, Troy, Allen, Cory, Josh and Amanda Panfile; Lisa Brus, Deanna, Joseph, Angela and Vickie Molgaard; and many great-nieces, nephews and cousins.
Visitation:
A visitation will be held on Friday, March 14, 2014 from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM at the Nicklas D. Jensen Funeral Home of Alta.
Funeral:
A private family funeral service will be held with the Rev. Don E. Rothweiler officiating.
Burial:
Burial will be at the Scandinavian Cemetery of Alta with military rites conducted by the Alta VFW Post #6172.