Donald Dean Hight, 68, passed away on Aug. 27, 2022, at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls surrounded by his family after struggling with early onset Alzheimer’s for over 10 years.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. on Thursday, Sept. 1, at First Reformed Church in Sioux Falls. Visitation with family present will begin at 1 p.m. at the church. Arrangements are by the Heritage Funeral Home of Sioux Falls.

Don was born May 5, 1954, in Chamberlain to Willard and Gladys (Scales) Hight.  He was baptized at the Methodist Church and confirmed at the Friedens Reformed Church in Tripp.

While in high school, Don worked at AMPI in Parkston, making cheese and picking up milk from the farmers instead of being able to play sports. He graduated from Parkston High School in 1974.

Don met the love of his life while on a double date, each with a different person, while picking Cindy up from her home place. Don married Cindy on June 29, 1975, in the Friedens Reform Church in Tripp.

After they were married, they moved to Mitchell before moving to Freeman. While at Freeman, Don worked for Mehlhaff Manufacturing. They then moved to Tyndall. While living in Tyndall, Don worked at Portec Manufacturing in Yankton. Next, they moved to Tripp. Don opened his own gas and car repair shop called Don’s Standard Service.

Don and Cindy then moved to a farm outside of Kaylor. During that time, he worked at JCPenney in the men’s department before they moved to Scotland, where they lived for 26 years. While in Scotland, Don worked as head maintenance for the Scotland nursing home for fifteen years, after which he took a job at the Poet Ethanol Plant for 10 years. Sometime after, Don developed dementia and early onset Alzheimer’s, and Don and Cindy moved to Sioux Falls.

Don was a devoted son, husband, father, and grandfather. He spent his years attending his children’s and grandchildren’s academic and athletic events. Don also coached Special Olympics, high school football, flag football, and youth basketball. He was a volunteer firefighter for the Tripp and Scotland Fire Departments.  Don enjoyed doing house projects, watching movies, playing cards, eating ice cream, making the “duck noise” to make his family laugh, and having a couple of beers with his friends and family. 

Don is survived by his wife of 47 years, Cindy Hight; his three children, Toby Hight of Sioux Falls, Tricia (Arin) Boschee of Woonsocket, and Tucker (Micaela) Hight of Wayne, Neb.; six grandchildren; nine siblings, Sonia (Harlen) Schelske of Reliance, Jim (Vondalee) Hight of Prineville, Ore., Donna (Tom) Graham of Davis, Okla., Pat (Greg) Kogel of Mitchell, Jerry (Helen) Hight of Gillette, Wyo., twin brother Ronald (Candy) Hight of Arena, Wis., Howard (Kathy) Hight of Mitchell, Barb (Dick) Roxbury of Coloma, Wis., and Alice (Steve) Mathey of Madison; numerous nieces and nephews; and Daisy, his beloved dog.

Don was preceded in death by his parents, and his three sisters, Brenda Mae Hight, Glenda Zangle, and Jackie Hight.