Johnnie Reiff, 76, of Sioux Falls, formerly of Avon

He died at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD on April 12, 2008. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM, Tuesday, April 15, 2008 at Miller West Funeral Chapel in SIoux Falls. Visitation will continue Tuesday at the First Baptist Church in Avon from 5-7 PM, followed by a 7 PM prayer service. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM, Wednesday at the First Baptist Church in Avon with burial in the Trinity Presbyterian Cemetery, rural Avon, with military honors. Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Chapel in Avon is in charge of arrangements.

Johnnie Richard Reiff was born on September 4, 1931 in Avon, South Dakota to George and Marie (Radtke) Reiff. He died at Sanford Hosptial in Sioux Falls on April 12, 2008 at the age of 76 years, 7 months and 8 days.

Johnnie grew up on a farm south of Avon. He attended Avon High School and graduated in 1949. Johnnie served in the U.S. Army, including active duty in the Korean War from May 6, 1952 to February 5, 1954. Johnnie attended Southern State Teacher's College in Springfield, South Dakota graduating in 1959 with a degree in English. In the summer of 1959, he began his employment with the South Dakota Department of Transportation in Tyndall. He continued working for the D.O.T. in both Yankton and Sioux Falls. In 1979, Johnnie moved to Sioux Falls and became the DOT's first resident engineer for maintenance. In 1983, Johnnie became the engineering supervisor for the Sioux Falls area and in 1990, he became Area Engineer at Sioux Falls. He administered construction and maintenance programs for 656 miles of state highways and 154 bridges. One of his projects received the Marvin M. Black Award in 1996. Only eight projects in the United States received this award in 1996. After 37 years of service, he retired in 1996. Johnnie was inducted into the South Dakota Department of Transportation Hall of Honor in 1997.

Johnnie married Clarice Hubner on December 13, 1957. This past December, they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary. To this union four daughters were born; Pam, Sandy, Jill, and Lora. Johnnie and Clarice raised their family in Avon until 1978 when they moved to Sioux Falls.

While in Avon, Johnnie was very active in the community. He served as a volunteer for the Avon Fire Department, was active in the American Legion, was a school board member and served as school board president for a number of years. He had the honor of giving his two oldest daughters, Pam and Sandy, their high school diplomas. In addition, Johnnie was a registered land surveyor. He volunteered many hours to help build the Avon High School football field and track. Johnnie was honored as an Honorary Referee at the Avon Relays.

Johnnie loved sports, especially football, basketball and track. He remained a loyal Avon Pirate fan, even after living in Sioux Falls for 30 years. He loved watching the young Avon players play in the tri-state basketball tournament every year, going from gym to gym to see them play. He enjoyed seeing the Pirates win three state football championships. Johnnie and Clarice received the Avon High School Fan of the Year Award in 1976.

Johnnie especially loved his family. He took great pride that all four daughters graduated from college and went on to successful careers. Johnnie was proud of all his grandchildren and enjoyed watching and hearing about their many activities including football, basketball, track, cross country, softball, soccer, skateboarding, figure skating and gymnastics.

Surviving Johnnie are his wife of 50 years, Clarice, his daughter Pam Dooyema and her husband Doug of Luverne, MN, his daughter Sandy Soyland and her husband, Ron, of Sioux Falls, SD, his daughter Jill Hanson of Colorado Springs, CO, and his daughter Lora Reiff of Sioux Falls, SD. Also surviving him are his 13 grandchildren: Andrew, Katie, Kelsey, Samuel, Elijah, Naomi, Jeremiah and Jedidiah Dooyema, all of Luverne, MN; Amanda Bullerman and her husband Brad of Adrian, MN; Rachel and Ryan Soyland of Sioux Falls, SD; Cole and Luke Hanson of Colorado Springs, CO. Other survivors include his brothers Lloyd and his wife Ethel, Dale and his wife Cleo, Bob and his wife Joann, his sisters-in-law Joyce Janssen, Phyllis Hubner and Myrtle Reiff, all of Avon, SD, and Anita Bitterman of Everett, WA, his cousins, nieces and nephews and their families as well as many friends.

Johnnie was preceded in death by his mother and father, sister, Alma Nelson, brothers, Francis, Marvin and Ray, brothers-in-law, James Janssen, Dale Nelson, Cliff Hubner, Lavelle Meiers and Burnell Hubner, sisters-in-law, Minnie Hubner and Velma Meiers.