Laity and Staff

Blaine Wilson, 57, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, died Tuesday, Dec. 21, 2021, at his home, following multiple health issues. A celebration of life service was held Tuesday, Dec. 28, 2021, at Southern Hills United Methodist Church in Sioux Falls, followed by full military honors. Blaine Lyn Wilson was born on May 19, 1964, to Jim and Vera (Foss) Wilson of Bison, South Dakota. When he wasn’t herding cattle on the family ranch, Blaine was active in football, basketball, and track, where he set records that he claimed still stood. After graduating from Bison High School, he attended the University of South Dakota at Vermillion, earning his bachelor of science degree in education. He taught one year at Artesian, South Dakota, and then moved to Sioux Falls and worked at sales jobs.

In 1993 Blaine met Susan Francis, and they were married on Nov. 25, 1995. They had two sons, and Blaine was their soccer coach, softball parent, and debate judge, every weekend he was available.

Blaine served in the Army National Guard and Air National Guard for more than 20 years. Being in the National Guard allowed him to travel to other countries including Panama, Canada, and Germany.

Blaine served as Conference Lay Leader for the Dakotas Conference, 2012-2016. He also served in leadership roles at Celebration United Methodist Church in Brandon, South Dakota, and at Southern Hills UMC. Beginning in 2014, Blaine was certified as a lay minister by the Glacial Lakes District and designated pulpit supply. He was supervising lay supply at Egan United Methodist Church, 2018-2020. In 2021 he was appointed to Gayville-Volin United Methodist Church, where he was serving at the time of his death.

Blaine is survived by his wife of 26 years, Susan; two sons: Tyler, of Eagan, Minnesota, and Brendan, of Eden Prairie, Minnesota; his brother, Paul (Jacki) Wilson, of Mina Lake, South Dakota; his sister, Paula (Rex) Eichelberger, of Avoca, Iowa; two aunts and an uncle; and many nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; and an aunt and uncle.

John Luecke, 83, of Clear Lake, South Dakota, passed away Saturday, Jan. 22, 2022, at his home, surrounded by family. A celebration of life service was held Monday, Jan. 31, 2022, at the United Methodist Church in Clear Lake. Burial was in Lakeview Cemetery at Clear Lake.

John Leroy Luecke was born Feb. 8, 1938, in Pierre, South Dakota, to William “Bill” and Mary (McIlravey) Luecke. John attended Sunny Slope Country School in Hughes County and graduated from Pierre High School in 1957. He met the love of his life, Patricia “Patty” O’Rielly, in 6th grade at 4-H camp. They were married on August 21, 1957.

John attended the University of Nebraska for two and a half years on a football scholarship. In 1960 he left school and returned to the Hughes County-Sully County area to farm. In 1972 he moved his family to the Deuel County farm-ranch that was their home until 1997.

In late 1996, John took a leap of faith, sold the farm, and served the Dakotas Conference of The United Methodist Church as director of the Tree of Life Ministry on the Rosebud Reservation in Mission, South Dakota. From 1997 to 2004, John and Pat hosted work teams from all over the United States trying to address the needs on the reservation. He worked on everything from home repair to distributing clothing and food.

John and Pat then returned home to Clear Lake. John filled his time with substitute teaching, assisting at R-n-C Cabinets, playing bridge, attending grandchildren’s events, and traveling.

John lived a life of service that took him on mission trips to Africa, the Appalachians, and Alaska, and to Mississippi after the destruction of Hurricane Katrina. He served on school boards, the hospital board, township boards, Jaycees, Farm Bureau, and church boards. He was a charter member of the Northeast Co-op and the Deuel Booster Club. Seeing the need for a track and football field, he resigned from the school board and spearheaded the project that became Cardinal Field.

John is survived by his wife of 64 years, Pat; his children: Deb (Jon) Lessman, of Clear Lake, Lenny (Kathy Jo) Luecke, of Kindred, North Dakota, Becky (Dave) Luecke Hunter, of Groton, South Dakota, and Pam Luecke, of Clear Lake; eight grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren with two more on the way; his brother, Larry (Lorna) Luecke, of Las Vegas, Nevada; two sisters: Margaret (Lytle) Blankenship, of Kerrville, Texas, and Irene (Lyle) Bamsey, of Sioux Falls; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his son, Robert “Rob”; his parents; a brother, William “Billy”; his father-in-law, Robert O’Rielly, and mother-in-law, Velma (Jernigan) O’Rielly; a sisterin-law, Wanda (Kerry) Dilley; a brother-in-law, Dean O’Rielly; one niece; and two nephews.

Sixteen candles are lit in remembrance of those clergy, clergy spouses, and lay leaders that have left this earthly home in the past year at the Celebration of Life in Ministry Service on Friday, June, 10, 22, in Bismarck, North Dakota.