Obituary of Edna Cecelia Dendinger

Edna Cecelia Dendinger, age 94 of Yankton, SD passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, June 13, 2015 at Avera Sister James Care Center, Yankton, SD. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 AM, Thursday, June 18, 2015 at St. Benedict Catholic Church, Yankton, SD with Rev. Ken Lulf officiating. Burial will be in the Sacred Heart Cemetery, Yankton, SD. Visitations will begin at 4:00 PM, Wednesday, June 17, 2015 at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home and Crematory, Yankton, SD with a rosary at 7:00 PM followed by a Scripture service at 7:30 PM. Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the church. Edna was born on October 27, 1920, being a home delivery in the house at 403 Milwaukee Street in Utica, SD. She was the sixth child of Charles and Alice (Ellerman) Smith. Edna graduated from Yankton High School in 1938 and Duchesne College in Omaha, NE in 1942. After graduation she worked in a War Production Plant in Omaha, NE. Most significantly, she was invited on a blind date where she met a young dental student by the name of Donald C. Dendinger. On February 19, 1944, she married him at St Cecelia's Cathedral in Omaha, NE. They moved to Yankton, SD in 1946 where they resided at 503 Maple Street and raised 10 children. Don practiced dentistry in Yankton from 1946 to 1982, and up until his death on April 27, 1998, he remained very active with his community, his church and his family. Edna was a member of St Benedict Catholic Parish, Catholic Daughters, Oblates, PEO, Women's Club, Questers, the Fry'n Pan Muffin Ladies and she was an avid bridge player. Edna is survived by 8 daughters and 1 son: Mary Pat (Don) Guier, of Omaha, NE, Jeanne (Phil) Schreier, of Omaha, NE, Bill (Cyndi) Dendinger of Vermillion, SD, Kaye Myers of Brookings, SD, Margaret (Tom) Holland of Dakota Dunes, SD, Joan Dendinger of Redlands, CA, Susan (Larry) Krisl of Littleton, CO, Alice Dendinger of Austin, TX and Barb Dendinger of Yankton, SD; 22 grandchildren; 17 great grandchildren, 1 great-great grandchild, a sister-in-law, Monica Cherry of Stanton, CA, and numerous nieces and nephews. Edna is preceded in death by her husband, Don of 54 years; a daughter, Karen; her parents, Charles and Alice Smith; brothers, Arthur and Charles "Chug" Smith; sisters, Mary Smith, Agnes Halsted and Alice Hill and son-in-law, Steve Myers. The family would also like to acknowledge and express gratitude to the many friends in the community and especially the staff at Avera Sister James Care Center (Majestic Bluffs) for all of their love and care. Memorials are directed to the Don and Edna Dendinger Endowed Scholarship at the Yankton Catholic Community Foundation, 509 Capital Street, Yankton, SD 57078.