Dennis Westgard

Dates

Obituary

Dennis Westgard, 78, of Mitchell, SD, died Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at Avera Queen of Peace Hospital in Mitchell. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM Monday, August 17, at First United Methodist Church in Mitchell. Burial will be at Graceland Cemetery in Mitchell. Visitation will be Sunday from 1-3:00 PM at the church with a 2:30 PM prayer service. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Dennis Victor Westgard was born November 11, 1947, to Victor and Alma (Ekness) Westgard in Rugby, North Dakota. He was welcomed into the family by his siblings Milton, Stanley, Viola, and Lester. Dennis attended grade school to the 6th grade at Hendricks School #3, then went to Rugby High School. In high school, he was very active in debate and wrestling, graduating in 1965.

Following high school, Dennis attended Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota. He became very active in student government, debate, and the welcoming committee for undergraduates. Notably, Dennis was responsible for bringing dancing to Concordia College! Throughout his life, Dennis also loved fishing and cherished his trips to Canada and Minnesota.

After college, Dennis managed a bookstore in Moorhead. He then joined New York Life Insurance Company as a sales agent in Fargo, later moving to Sioux Falls as a marketing manager. Later, he joined Tom Dice at his office in Mitchell and eventually moved to Yankton to open an office. He became an officer in the Life Underwriters Association and rose to become President of the South Dakota Chapter. In 1988, he again rejoined New York Life Insurance as a marketing manager in Chicago, working in 13 states. In 1996, he was recruited to work in the Home Office in Manhattan, New York. He retired in 2012.

Dennis married Sue (Thompson) Hubbard on June 1, 1985, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Mitchell, South Dakota, with his cousin, Rev. Gary Westgard, officiating. They lived in Mitchell, Yankton, Chicago, and New York before returning to Mitchell in 2014. Sue's father, Raymond Thompson, needed family close by, so they built a house with his own space. Dennis became very active in the First United Methodist Church, serving on the Board. He also joined the Mitchell Lions Club and worked his way up to President. Together, Dennis and Sue made many wonderful friends around the country.

Dennis is survived by wife, Sue Westgard; brother, Lester (Pat) Westgard; sister-in-law: Evelyn Westgard (wife of Milton); nieces: Marcia (Len) Peterson, Kristi (Tim) Butler, and Jessi (Dave) Larson; Nephews, Mark (Sue) Westgard, Jeff (Kerri) Westgard, Reid (Rain) Westgard, Lyle (Becky) , Lance , Kent, Keith, Joel (special friend Lydia) Kraft.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Victor and Alma (Ekness) Westgard; brothers, Milton Westgard, Stanley (Collette) Westgard, and Duaine Westgard; sister, Viola Kraft and infant brother, Duaine.

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