Clyde "Ron" Updegraff

Clyde "Ron" Updegraff, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, passed away on Thursday, May 29, 2025, at the VA Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD.

A funeral will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 5, 2025, at LifeChange Church (Sioux Falls First), 6300 W. 41st Street, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 57106. A visitation with family present will be held from 5:00 to 7:00 PM on Wednesday, June 4, 2025, at Miller Westside Chapel, Sioux Falls, South Dakota 57106. Interment and Military Honors will be at Hills of Rest Cemetery.

Ron was born on March 23, 1940, in Boone, Iowa, to Boyd Updegraff and Mary Baird. From an early age, Ron carried with him a sense of duty, determination, and care for others—qualities that would shape the course of his life.

In 1958, at just 18 years old, Ron began serving his country in the United States Navy, stationed out of Long Beach, California. For four years, he served with honor and pride, being discharged in 1962, having upheld the highest ideals of service.

But Ron’s service to others didn’t end when he took off his uniform. After his time in the Navy, he pursued a higher calling—one rooted in compassion and the desire to help others. He worked his way through college, ultimately earning a master's degree in counseling from South Dakota State University. Education was not easy, but Ron was determined and disciplined. He worked hard to build a future not just for himself, but for the people he would go on to serve.

Ron began his professional life as a social worker in Warren, Minnesota, a role he held for three years. He helped countless individuals and families through difficult times, offering guidance, hope, and practical support.

On April 11, 1970, Ron married the love of his life, Bonnie Ann Barrett. Their love was a quiet, enduring one—built on mutual respect, faith, and a shared dream of building a family.

After some painful years marked by several miscarriages, Ron and Bonnie were overjoyed to welcome their son, Christopher Michael Updegraff, into the world on May 25, 1975. Their joy multiplied with the birth of their daughter, Jennifer Ann Updegraff, on August 16, 1979. Ron loved his children deeply. He was a steady, caring presence—a father who led with patience and humility.

In the fall of 1973, Ron and Bonnie made the big move to California, where they would build a new life and create lasting memories as a family. After two decades on the West Coast, they returned to Sioux Falls in 1993, reconnecting with their Midwestern roots and settling into the next chapter of their lives together.

Ron also had a deep and lifelong love for the outdoors—especially hunting and fishing. That passion took root in his youth, thanks to his grandfather, Clyde, a South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks officer, who would take Ron hunting. From those early trips, Ron found not only adventure but also connection—to nature, to family, and to something larger than himself.

That love of the outdoors stayed with him his entire life. Whether it was the peace of casting a line into still water or the excitement of a pheasant hunt, Ron found solace and joy in nature. More importantly, he shared that love with his children and grandchildren, taking them along whenever he could. Those early mornings, quiet conversations, and shared successes became treasured memories that will live on through each generation.

Ron was also a man of quiet but enduring faith. Though he was raised Baptist by his mother, Mary, Ron later found a spiritual home at Life Change Church, a Pentecostal congregation where he worshiped faithfully for 29 years. His connection to the church community brought him peace, purpose, and lifelong friendships. His faith was lived out in action—through kindness, patience, and compassion toward others.

Ron’s life was defined by quiet resilience. Whether working his way through school, navigating the joys and trials of parenthood, or helping others through his work, he remained steadfast and grounded. He was a man who did not seek recognition—but his impact was deeply felt by those who knew him.

He taught us the value of hard work, the strength found in gentleness, and the importance of showing up—for your family, your country, your community. His legacy lives on in the people he loved, the lives he touched, and the example he set.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife Bonnie, his son Christopher Updegraff (Mariah), his daughter Jennifer Updegraff, and his grandchildren Anthony Ballard, Jordan Ford, Kaylee Updegraff, and Kaleb Updegraff.
He is preceded in death by his parents his brother Randy Updegraff and his half-brother Bruce Updegraff.