Kenneth Cronkhite

Kenneth E. Cronkhite, age 93, of Bryant, SD, passed away on Monday, April 22, 2024, at the Good Samaritan Society in De Smet, SD.

Funeral Mass will be held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, April 27, 2024, at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in De Smet, SD. Father Terry Weber will officiate with music provided by Ann Larson as organist. Active pallbearers will be Kenneth’s grandchildren: Kendall, April, Rob, Kimberly, Krissy, Darcie, and Danielle. 

Visitation will be held in the hour prior to the service.

Burial will be at St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Cemetery in De Smet, SD.

The family requests memorials be made to the Bryant American Legion Post #37 in Kenneth’s memory.

On August 26, 1930, Kenneth Edwin Cronkhite was born to Earl and Velma (Corlett) Cronkhite in Spirit Lake township, SD. He attended country school before graduating early from Bryant High School in 1947. Upon graduation, Kenneth joined the Navy where he became an airplane mechanic. He was honorably discharged as an AD2 in January 28, 1955. Throughout his life, Kenneth was a proud member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Bryant, American Legion Post #37, and a long-time fan of the St. Louis Cardinals.

Kenneth and Dorothy (Sylvia) were married on January 19, 1955, in San Francisco, CA. The couple settled in Bryant where Kenneth farmed until he retired in 1996. They raised four children together: Donna, David, Diane, and Caroline. Kenneth lived at home until the week before his passing at the Good Samaritan Society in De Smet. He passed away surrounded by his family.

Kenneth is survived by his wife of 69 years, Dorothy; four children: Donna Cronkhite, David (Mary Jane) Cronkhite, Diane (Tom) Ward, and Caroline Cronkhite; six grandchildren: Kendall (Shayla) Leichtenberg, April Leichtenberg, Danielle (Scott) Rogers and their children: Canon, Warren, and Lakelyn Rogers; and Darcie (Rob) Lee and their children: Everett, Rosene, and Esme Lee, Kimberly Hayden and her son, Conor Hayden, and Krissy Ward; and his sister, June Noem.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Earl and Velma; parents-in-law, Joseph and Agnes Sylvia; brothers: William (Margaret) Cronkhite and Clif (Bev) Cronkhite; and brother-in-law, Orville Noem.

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