Don Fechner, 65 of Wagner

His funeral will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, July 10, 2013, at St. John Lutheran Church in Wagner. Burial will be in the ZCBJ Cemetery with military honors. Visitation will be at the church from 5 to 7 Tuesday, followed by a prayer service. Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Home of Wagner is in charge of the arrangements.

Donald Lee Fechner, son of Albert and Edna (Jerke) Fechner, was born April 5, 1948 at Parkston, SD. He died peacefully, surrounded by his family, Sunday, July 7, 2013 at the Avera St. Benedict Health Center in Parkston, after a courageous battle with cancer.

Don grew up in Armour as a young boy and graduated from Armour High School in 1966. He served in the US Army from 1967 to 1969, with a tour of duty in Vietnam with the 9th Infantry Division, Mobile Riverine Force. Don was very proud of his service to his Country.

Don married the love of his life, Sandra Bastemeyer, on February 13, 1970. Two sons, Chris and Ryan, were born to their union. Together they made their home and worked in Wagner. Don worked at Vern's Body Shop, Zylstra Body Shop and Nick's Chrysler-Plymouth. In 1973, Don, his brother Dennis and their father Al bought out Nick's and became Fechner Motors Inc. In 1992, they became Chevrolet dealers. Don and Dennis also purchased the Ford dealership in Parkston in 1990.

Don was a member of St. John Lutheran Church, the Wagner VFW and the Wagner Chamber of Commerce. He was a 25 year member of the Wagner Fire Department and also served on the Wagner Labor Day Committee and the Wagner City Council. Don was a member of the South Dakota Auto Body Association, a board member of the South Dakota Auto Dealers Association and also a board member of Randall Hills Country Club.

Don loved restoring and driving street rods and going to car shows. He loved his grandkids and enjoyed going to their many sporting events. Don was so proud to go the the State A Tournament this past Spring to watch the Tea Titan, coached by his son Chris. The most special event for him recently was witnessing the wedding of Ryan and Amy, and the blending of their families.

Thankful for having shared his life are his wife Sandy of Wagner; sons: Chris and wife Kristin and Ryan and wife Amy, all of Tea; 10 grandchildren: Taylor, Brady, Jordan and Colby Fechner and Ashton and Isabella Fechner and Vanessa Johanneson, Brayden, Nathan and Nichole Nyborg; brother Dennis of Wagner; two sisters: Dianne Moore and husband John of Sioux Falls and Debbie Drietz and husband Kenny of Canton; his brothers and sisters-in-law, who were his extended family; and many nieces, nephews and friends.

Don was preceded in death by his parents; grandparents; niece DeNelle Fechner; and nephew Jay Moore.