Dennis Wayne Potter
( April 04, 1943 - January 09, 2019 )
Dennis Wayne Potter was born to Ruth Marie (Wells) Potter
and Robert Everett Potter in Chamberlain SD in 1943. He
graduated from Chamberlain High School in 1961 and from
Augustana College in Sioux Falls in 1965 with a BS in
Political Science. He was interested in City Planning before
it became a known factor in planned city growth. While at
Augustana, he met Mary Reinecke, and they were married a
week following their graduations. They moved to Louisville
KY where he worked with the Planning and Zoning Commission.
Following that time, he worked for the Cities of Eureka CA,
Pierre SD, Seaside CA, and Grand Forks ND, always in
Planning, Zoning and Economic Development/Redevelopment
before his retirement and their move to Sioux Falls in 2006.
Dennis was never in the military, but he felt closely
connected to it all of his life as his father, several
uncles, and his son Douglas served in the Army and the Air
Force. During his eight years in Seaside, he was involved in
the process when the military base Fort Ord was
decommissioned and converted to civilian use. While in Grand
Forks, he was instrumental in helping the city recover from
the Flood of 1997. He was also involved with the Grand Forks
Air Force Base, being connected through the Chamber of
Commerce with several base commanders over his eight years
there, serving as the Chair of the Military Affairs
Committee, and being named an Honorary Wing Commander.
He was always involved in the life of the Episcopal Church.
Growing up, he was a regular acolyte at Christ Church in
Chamberlain. Everywhere he and Mary lived, he was an active
participant in church life, starting with attendance at
Sunday morning services, and then the administrative part of
the church, locally, within the Diocese, and with the
National Church. When his health began to fail and he had to
withdraw from these activities, it was noted that he had
held almost every office that was possible for a lay person
to hold within the church administration.
Dennis was proud to be a member of the Crow Creek Sioux
Tribe.
Dennis dealt with Alzheimer’s Disease for the last years of
his life, and passed away on Wednesday, January 9, 2019.
He is survived by Mary, his wife of 53 years; two sons,
Douglas (Anthea) Potter of Bloomington, MN and David Potter
and his partner Christine Hulka of Costa Mesa, CA; sister,
Linda Potter of Chamberlain; sister-in-law, Hannelore
(Thomas) Tweed; brother-in-law, Max (Cathy) Reinecke; and
several nieces and nephews. He is preceded in death by his
parents.
The family requests the memorials be sent in his name to
Alzheimer’s Research, or to the Calvary Episcopal Cathedral
Foundation.
Visitation will be held from 2:00 – 4:00 pm with a prayer
service beginning at 4:00 pm on Sunday, January 13, 2019 at
Miller Funeral Home Downtown, 507 S. Main Ave., Sioux Falls.
Funeral service 1:00 pm Monday, January 14, 2019 at Calvary
Episcopal Cathedral, 500 S. Main Ave., Sioux Falls.
Interment Woodlawn Cemetery in Sioux Falls.
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