Dennis Milton

Dennis Milton, age 82, of Watertown, passed away Sunday, March 22, 2026, quietly at his home in Watertown, SD. Funeral Services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 27, 2026, at New Life Evangelical Free Church in Watertown.  Rev. Glenn Walker will officiate.  Sherry Dalke will be the organist. The family is requested to meet at the church on Friday by 10:30 a.m. for a prayer service.

Visitation will be at the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Thursday from 5-7 p.m. and prior to services at the church on Friday.

Burial will be at the Toronto Cemetery in Toronto, SD. Honorary pallbearers are Roger Latt, Arlan Warwick, Larry Mueller, Roger Squires, Mike Florey, Dave Ateo, Chet Koistinen.  Active pallbearers will be Randy Konold, Scott Hanson, Jesse Knutson, Randy Milton, Todd Sonnenburg, Travous Milton, Nathan Milton and Ryan Oldfield.

Dennis was born August 16, 1943 to Mable (Reihe) and Harold Milton in Clear Lake, SD. He lived and grew up on a farm east of Brandt, SD.  He attended Lincoln country school and graduated from Toronto High School. He went into farming with his father and brother.

He married Arlene Hicks on September 1, 1963 at the United Methodist Church, White, SD. They made their home at RR Toronto. Denny and Arlene moved to RR Toronto and their two sons, Troy and Kip were born during their six years of farming. He worked for the Toronto Elevator for a short time until he started employment with the SD Department of Transportation June of 1970. They lived in Clear Lake until his transfer to Watertown in 1975. They lived in Watertown until 1982 and moved to Hayti, SD, when he took the Foreman position in Hayti. After 32 years of employment with the SD Department of Transportation Denny retired in 2002 and went back as a seasonal employee for an additional 5 years.  They moved back to Watertown in 2014.

Denny and Arlene enjoyed Troy’s baseball and basketball games, Kip’s football games and their trip to Washington DC for Kip’s Security Guard graduation with the Marines.  They found it a great joy spending time with their first grandson and later trips to California to spend time with grandchildren there.  Also their many games of Pinochle with family and friends left fond memories.  He enjoyed fishing, hunting, golfing with his friends, spending time farming with his brother in law and nephews.

Dennis is survived by his wife, Arlene; two children, Troy (Gidget) Milton, Goodyear, AZ, Kip Milton, Watertown, SD; seven grandchildren, Ryan Oldfield, Brittany Schwieger, Charlotte Milton, Taylor Milton, Hailey Milton, Nathan Milton, Jillian Milton; one sister, Judy (LeRoy) Sonnenburg, Brandt, SD; sisters in law, Lonnie Milton, Sharon Milton, Wylla Konold, Janet Hurlbut, Darlene Martinson, Peggy (Wayne) Knutson and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Mable and Harold Milton, brothers, Jerry Milton, Roger Milton, Bruce Milton, brothers in law, Claire Konold, James Hurlbut, Eugene Hanson and Allyn Martinson. 

Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel www.crawfordosthus.com Watertown and Hayti

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