The Funeral service for Randy DeWolf will be live streamed through Clausen Funeral Home & Cremation Services facebook page beginning at approximately 10:20 AM on Thursday.
Allen “Randy” DeWolf, age 77, of Burke, South Dakota passed away on September 30th, 2022 at the Sanford Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD surrounded by his family. Randy was born on March 23rd, 1945 in Sioux Falls, SD to Conrad and Ercel (Sunding) DeWolf. He was baptized and confirmed at the Methodist Church in Highmore, SD. Highmore is where he grew up and graduated from high school. Randy excelled in all sports (basketball, football, and track). He received the nickname Mr. Outside in football because of his ability to get outside with his speed on the toss sweep.
Randy attended college at Southern State Teacher College in Springfield, SD. In 1967 he moved to Burke, SD where he met the love of his life, Linda Frank. They were married on November 23rd, 1968 at Grace Lutheran Church in Burke, SD and enjoyed almost 54 years of marriage together. After they were married he received his Masters in Education from the University of South Dakota.
Randy started teaching at Burke High School in 1967 and later years became the principal until he retired in 2007. Randy instituted the 6th to 8th grade middle school concept and was on the forefront in getting block scheduling so surrounding schools could share teachers. He also implemented the first school wide computer program in Burke.
Randy coached multiple sports including basketball, football, track and golf. During the 1972-73 season, he coached the boys’ basketball team to a #2 ranking with a record of 20-0. Randy led the Bulldog Football Team to 6 straight regional finals and a trip to the dome with a runner-up finish in 1987. His overall record at that time was 65-17. In 1988 he was named Region 8’s football head coach of the year by the High School Football Coaches Association. Randy led the womens’ golf teams to three State Championship titles in 1994, 1996, and 2003 and three second place finishes in 1998, 2000 and 2001. He also coached the boys’ golf team to a State Championship in 1994. Randy was recognized by the South Dakota Golf Coaches Association as the Golf Coach of the Year from 1997-2005. Randy was inducted into the SESD Coaches Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, he had to give up his passion for coaching due to his health issues. Randy had a true love for his family and grandkids. He loved watching them compete in sporting events and was always there to provide support and advice.
Randy had a passion for the Burke Golf Course. He was instrumental in planting trees, installing underground sprinklers and various other projects that have made the course the beautiful public asset it is today. Believe it or not, there use to be no cold beer served at the club house. That was one of the very first things he was able to change right away. One of Randy’s favorite times of the year was the Burke Dog Days. He loved to run the alumni friends and family golf tournaments. More importantly, he truly enjoyed having all his family and friends back for the weekend festivities. He had a love for fantasy football and talking to Jeff on game days to strategize on who they would play that week. He loved grilling and happy hours at “Loopy’s Beverage Center” and any other place he could find an ice-cold beer. Another hobby of his was officiating basketball games with Mike Dacy. There are a lot of stories about these days that they would go back and forth on. It certainly wasn’t uncommon for them to get booed or even chased out of the gym for “bad calls”.
Randy was proceeded in death by his mother Ercel. He is survived by his wife Linda DeWolf of Burke, SD; son and daughter-in-law Jeff & Teresa DeWolf of Akron, IA; daughter Casey Bailey of Platte, SD; daughter and son-in-law Abbey & Chris Mikkelsen of Sioux Falls, SD and grandchildren Parker, Jye, Knox, Nyla and step-grandchildren Jackson, Presley and Joel and lots of loving brothers-in-law, sisters-in-law, nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be held on Thursday, October 6, 2022 at 10:30 AM at the Civic Center in Burke. Burial will be in the Graceland Cemetery, Burke. Visitation will Wednesday from 6:00 PM until 7:00 PM, with a 7:00 PM prayer service, at the civic center. There will be a Social Celebration at the Burke Golf Course following the prayer service on Wednesday evening.
