Arnold "Arnie" Emanuel DeWald
Arnold “Arnie” DeWald, 90, passed away on Wednesday, September 23, 2026, at the VA Hopsice Cottage in Sioux Falls. Visitation with the family present will be held from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, September 27, 2026, at George Boom Funeral Home & On-Site Crematory in Sioux Falls. Please park in the NORTH parking lot behind the funeral home and enter in the Reception Center doors for visitation on Sunday. His funeral service will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, September 28, 2026, at Harrisburg United Methodist Church in Harrisburg, SD. Burial will take place at Hills of Rest Cemetery in Sioux Falls. In lieu of flowers, memorials may go to the South Dakota Parkinson Foundation in Arnie’s name.
Arnie was born on May 22, 1936, in Tripp, South Dakota, to John and Lea (Weisser) DeWald. He attended Pearly Mound Country School and graduated from Tripp High School in 1954. He continued his education at Southern State College in Springfield, South Dakota, from 1954 to 1956, and proudly served in the United States Marine Corps from 1956 to 1958.
On June 26, 1965, Arnie married Ruth Pedersen in Pipestone, Minnesota. They began married life in Ethan, South Dakota, and over the years made their home in communities across South Dakota, North Dakota, and Montana before settling in Harrisburg in 1987. Arnie built a long career in the feed and grain industry. Starting his career in managing grain elevators in Spencer, Ethan, and Tripp. His career led him to managing service centers and grain elevators across the region for GTA Feeds/Harvest States Cooperatives. He retired after 30 years at the Ellis Feed Production plant. In retirement, he continued working part-time at the fertilizer plant in Worthing until Parkinson’s disease prevented him from continuing.
An avid sportsman, Arnie found great enjoyment in hunting, fishing, and camping. During retirement, he and Ruth spent winters in Texas, where they treasured time with many friends. His faith was central to his life, and he was deeply committed to Harrisburg United Methodist Church, where he helped lead the effort to build a new sanctuary. Through his dedication to family, work, church, community, and friendship, Arnie leaves a legacy of steady service and lasting love.
A devoted husband, father, grandfather, great-grandfather, veteran, outdoorsman, and man of faith, Arnie will be remembered for the life he built with his family and the many communities he served through his work and church.
Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Ruth DeWald of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; daughters, Sherry (Kelly) VanMeter of Sioux Falls, Sandra (Gary) Fischer of Sioux Falls, and Jennifer DeWald (Corey Ulrickson) of Harrisburg; grandchildren, Brandon (Noel), Tyler, Kennedi (Taggert), Brady, Sam, and Brooklyn (Christian); great-grandchildren, Beckham and Charlotte; brothers, Bernie (Rose) DeWald and Roland (Norma) DeWald, both of Sioux Falls, and Dennis DeWald of Omaha, NE; sister, Alvera Thompson of Sioux Falls; sister-in-law, Phyllis DeWald of Tripp; brother-in-law, Dale Reiner of Sioux Falls; and several nieces and nephews.
Arnie was preceded in death by his parents, John and Lea (Weisser) DeWald; sisters, Ruth Baumiller and Norma Reiner; brother, Raymond DeWald; brother-in-law, Vern Thompson; and sisters-in-law, Lois and Linda.