Arlan Feistner, 81, of Mitchell, formerly of Woonsocket, died Saturday, Oct. 29, at Firesteel Nursing Home in Mitchell, after a long battle with cancer.
Funeral services were Thursday, Nov. 3, at Mitchell Wesleyan Church. Burial was in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery at rural Letcher. Visitation with a 7 p.m. prayer service was from 5-7 p.m. at Will Funeral Chapel in Mitchell.
Arlan Ray Feistner was born Oct. 13, 1935, in rural Letcher to Alfred and Ida (Fristad) Feistner. He grew up on the family farm near Woonsocket and attended grades 1-8 at Berg School, one year at Lane High School and three years at Woonsocket High School. Arlan attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls for two years, and then SDSU in Brookings for two years, graduating with a degree in agricultural economics.
Arlan married Verna Faye Johnson on Oct. 12, 1958, at Victor Lutheran Church in rural Mt. Vernon. To this union were born two children, Julie Lynne and James Arlan. The early years of their marriage were spent in Sioux Falls, where Arlan worked for Northwestern Bank from 1958 to 1960. He then worked for the USDA in Sioux Falls, Des Moines, Iowa, the national office in Washington, D.C., and Denver, Colo. In 1972, Arlan retired and moved back to Woonsocket to the family farm. He farmed until his retirement in December of 2013. He and Verna moved to Mitchell in January of 2014.
He was a member of Storla Lutheran Church, where he was active on the church board and singing in the men’s chorus. They later joined Mitchell Wesleyan Church. Arlan was a member of the South Dakota Army National Guard, a board member of Tri-County Electric and Central Electric from 1983 to 2010, Storla Sunset Home Board of Directors, The Gideons, Blaine Township Board, Toastmasters Club and the Board of Equalization in Jerauld County.
Grateful to have shared Arlan’s life are his wife of 58 years, Verna, of Mitchell; his daughter, Julie (Harvey) Doerr of Mitchell; his son, Jim (Connie) Feistner of Woonsocket; his brother, Dr. Delvin (Lois) Feistner of Wessington Springs; seven grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; two aunts; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.
He was preceded in death by his parents and numerous aunts and uncles.