Dean Craig Luikens

CLERGY
Fr. Mathew Vazhappilly
MUSIC
Organist ~ Georgianne Pravecek
Congregational Hymns
“Holy God, We Praise Thy Name”
“Amazing Grace”
“On Eagle’s Wings”
MILITARY RITES BY
Paul Grosshuesch V.F.W. Post #2966 of Scotland
Joseph Verm American Legion Post #155 of Scotland
HONORARY CASKETBEARERS
Members of the South Dakota
Amateur Baseball Umpire’s Association
All Area Amateur Baseball Teams
All of Dean’s Nieces and Nephews
CASKETBEARERS
Jim Pesicka
Fred Eisenbraun
Dale Luikens
Erik Nusz
Jim Zeeb
Dan Zeeb
Floyd Pesicka
Ron Thyen
Ken Thyen
Bernie Thyen
Dan Thyen
Jim Thyen
Russ Thyen
Pat Kari
Tom Berg
Doug Dahlgren
Dean Craig Luikens was born Tuesday, July 4, 1950 at Yankton, South Dakota to Jacob and Esther (Bartsch) Luikens. He graduated from Menno High School in 1968. He joined the US Air Force in 1969 and completed his basic training in San Antonio, Texas where he achieved the rank of Sergeant. He specialized in communications during his time spent at Akinci Air Base in Ankara, Turkey and later in Cheyenne Mountain AFB in Colorado and Ellsworth AFB in Rapid City. Upon the completion of his military service, Dean studied electrical construction and maintenance at Mitchell Vo-Tech. He later owned and operated a gas station in Olivet and drove truck for Mehlhaff Trucking of Kaylor. In recent years, he drove school bus for B-J School Buses. Dean was active in amateur baseball and served as an umpire for 37 years. Dean was united in marriage to Mary Ellen Thyen on December 22, 1984 at St. George Catholic Church in Scotland. He was an avid outdoorsman and loved hunting, fishing and trapping. He was a member of Pheasants Forever and Ducks Unlimited. He enjoyed playing Scrabble, word search and other word games. He loved all sports, especially baseball. Dean died on Wednesday, May 22, 2013 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls at the age of 62 years, 10 months, and 18 days.
Dean is survived by his wife, Mary Ellen, of Scotland; one daughter, Emily Luikens of Tea; a goddaughter: Shantel Geiman Milliken of Gettysburg; his parents, Jacob and Esther Luikens of Menno; his mother-in-law, Clarice Thyen of Waverly; six sisters: Brenda Dobbe of Sioux Falls, Phyllis (Pat Kari) Sour of Blackhawk, Lois (Doug) Hyde of Castlewood, Rita (Tom) Berg of Baltic, Sharon (Doug Dahlgren) Thyen of Watertown and Diane (Dan) Seitz of Alaska; six brothers: Ron (Dianne) Thyen of Hayti, Ken (Marlys) Thyen of Sioux Falls, Bernie Thyen of Norfolk, Nebraska, Dan (Becky) Thyen of Waverly, Jim (Penny) Thyen of Waverly and Russ (Heather) Thyen of Grove City, Minnesota; a sister-in-law, Susan Luikens of Story, Wyoming; an uncle, Albert (Irene) Luikens of Menno; his aunts: Ruth (Carroll) Dupraz of Arizona, Marge Eisenbraun of Creighton, Viola Ulmer of Menno, Mary Luikens of Freeman, Helen Haan of Kranzburg and Ruth Ebbers of Estelline; 25 nieces and nephews, 18 great-nieces and great-nephews, and 1 great-great-nephew.
Dean was preceded in death by a daughter, Theresa Ann Luikens; two brothers: Lewis Luikens and Roger Luikens (in infancy); his father-in-law, Ralph Thyen; brother-in-law, Corky Sour; his uncles: Leon Bartsch, William Luikens, Edmond (Fryda) Rempfer, Fred (Esther) Luikens, Jerry Haan and Paul Ebbers; and aunt Alice Frasch.