Donald "Don" Reiffenberger

Donald “Don” Reiffenberger, age 75, of Big Stone City, SD, passed away on June 15, 2023, at his home from a short battle with cancer.

A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Wednesday, June 21, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Charles Catholic Church in Big Stone City, SD. Visitation will be held on Tuesday, June 20, 2023, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Mundwiler Funeral Home in Milbank, SD, with a prayer service beginning at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue one hour prior to the service at the church on Wednesday. Padre Dav’id Garza will celebrate the Mass and interment will be at St. Charles Catholic Cemetery just outside of Big Stone City.

The service will be livestreamed and recorded and will be viewable at the bottom of this page.

Donald Lawrence Reiffenberger was born in Madison, MN, on September 12, 1947, to Norbert and Leona (Vortherms) Reiffenberger. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Joseph Catholic Church in Rosen, MN. Don attended St. Joseph Catholic School in Rosen through eighth grade and graduated from Bellingham High School in 1965. He attended Hennepin County Vocational School for Blue Print Reading.

On April 26, 1969, Don married Joan Iverson at St. Charles Catholic Church in Big Stone City, SD; celebrating their 54th wedding anniversary this year. Born to this marriage were their daughters: Tamera and Karin.

Don worked numerous jobs that included working construction building the convent in Rosen and building grain bins for Urban Stolpman. He also worked at Rausch Brothers Granite in Big Stone City, SD.  From 1967 to 1980, Don worked at Rosemount Engineering in Bloomington and Eden Prairie, MN. In 1980, he worked at Otter Tail Power Plant in Big Stone City for a short time. In 1982, Don accepted a job at FOK/United Hardware in Milbank until 1996. After a disabling injury, Don became the Gold Star of “House-Husbands”. 

Don loved to repair, fix, build, or engineer any project. At a young age, he made his own motorcycle (held a pint of gas) and would pull his brother, Roger, from Rosen to Nassau, MN, to buy fireworks. He looked forward to the “annual deer hunt” with his brother, Leo.  Don was very proud of his “deer antlers” that he accumulated. His last successful hunt was November 2022.  (Thank you, Leo!)  His years of “making his own special recipe” sausage provided fun times and great meals.  He loved it when his children and grandchildren wanted him to go “car shopping” for them.

Very much involved in his community, Don was a current member of the Big Stone City Planning and Zoning Committee, past member of the Big Stone City School Board, and St. Charles Parish Council and Eucharistic Minister.

Don is survived by his wife, Joan; daughters: Tamera (Dan) Gangelhoff of New Ulm, MN; and Karin (Stuart) Moser of Beaver Creek, MN; six grandchildren: Jacob (Anna) Gangelhoff, Nicole (Cole) Owens, Samantha Moser, Cody Moser, Jack Moser, and Hailey Moser; one great-grandson, Toby Gangelhoff; expecting this summer, Gangelhoff great-grandson #2; and Owens’ twin great-granddaughters #1 and 2; sisters: Dolores (Tom) Kirchberg, Mary (Gene) Koosmann, and Karen (Bruce) Rudd; brothers: Roger Reiffenberger, Charles (Korinne) Reiffenberger, and Leo (Lisa) Reiffenberger; brothers and sisters in-law: Betty Reinke, Tom (Barb) Iverson, Mark Iverson, John (Pauline) Hicks, David (Charlene) Iverson, and Teri (Anthony) Spors; aunts: Marie Vortherms, Cece’ Reiffenberger, and ‘Ceal Konz; Godsons: Pastor Don Reiffenberger (cousin), and Deacon Michael Iverson (nephew); along with numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; brother, Joseph; father and mother in-law, Les and Peg Iverson; brother in-law, Robert Iverson; sister in-law, Debra Hicks; sisters-in-law: Laura Iverson and Darlene Reiffenberger, brother-in-law, Mel Reinke, niece in- law, Noelle Koosmann; and Godson/nephew, Paul Hicks.

Don’s family requests donations be given to Big Stone Health Care Foundation, Abbey of the Hills Inn & Retreat Center, or CentraCare Hospice.