Dennis Robert Lundgren passed away at home surrounded by his loving family under hospice care on July 8, 2017 after courageously battling pancreatic cancer. Visitation will be held at the United Parish Church in Elkton on Wednesday, July 12 from 5 p.m.-7 p.m. Funeral services will be held July 13 at the Elkton United Parish at 10:30 a.m. with internment at the Elkton Cemetery. Eidsness Funeral Home is handling the arrangements.

Dennis Robert Lundgren was born on February 22, 1947 at St. Luke's Hospital in Superior, Wisconsin, the son of Robert V. and Shirley K. (Moe) Lundgren. He received his elementary education in Carlton, MN, Sioux Falls, SD and Lake Benton, MN, moving to Elkton, SD in August 1960 for his eighth grade year and graduated in 1965 with the largest graduating class with 40 members.

He attended South Dakota State University in Brookings where he received his Bachelor of Science in Arts and Science, majoring in Printing Management, in June 1969. He was also commissioned as a 2 nd Lieutenant in the US Army. He went on to complete his Master of Science in Arts and Science graduating in August 1971. He completed his Army training at Fort Benning, Georgia in 1971 and served eight years in the Army Reserve. In 1978 he was honorably discharged as a Captain in the United States Army.

He returned to Elkton and continued working with Lundgren Publishing Company with his father. During this time they added the White Leader and Toronto Herald to their ownership with the Elkton Record. At this time they converted the publishing of the three newspapers to the offset printing process.

Dennis met the love of his life, Deanna Renae Steen, in the spring of 1974. She had recently accepted a teaching position in Elkton. They were married on June 14, 1975 in the Elkton United Methodist Church. To this union three children were born: Jeremy Scott, Georgianna Renae (Jensen) and Scott Dennis. They began building their home in Elkton in 1976 and moved in in March 1977.

With the Centennial Celebration scheduled for 1978, Dennis and his father started compiling photos and writing stories about the history of Elkton. With the help of area residents providing pictures along with file photos, Dennis began writing all the news articles for the Centennial Edition. The goal was to publish a 100 page special edition but time ran out and the Centennial Edition was printed as a 76 page special in spring and early summer with the help of Dennis' sister, Dawn Kuehl Wilson, Mike Bechtold, and, of course, "Bud".

Dennis accepted employment with South Dakota State University in The Printing Laboratory in June 1976 as composing room foreman. In August he accepted the promotion to Instructor in the Printing Management curriculum in the Department of Journalism. In December Dennis was appointed as Production Manager of the Printing Laboratory, a position he held until his retirement in September 2008. He also continued teaching classes in the Printing Management program until it was discontinued.

Dennis was active in the Elkton community. He became a member of the Elkton Volunteer Fire Department in October 1973. As a member, he served as Fire Chief for two years, treasurer and secretary for several years. He also received training as an EMT and was a certified EMT for 8 years. He retired from the department in November 2005 after 32 years.

He was elected to the Elkton City Council as a councilman in Ward 1 in 1974 and then was elected Mayor in 1976 a position he held for two years. He returned to a councilman position in 1978. He chose to run for School Board in 1979 and was elected and gave up his city council position. He served on the School Board for over 20 years, serving as President for one year. During these years the Board completed three building projects and two playgrounds. In March 2017, Dennis was honored by being inducted into the Elk Nation Hall of Fame for his many contributions to the school. After his years on the School Board, he was again elected to the City Council and was currently serving as a councilman.

When Elkton suffered a huge loss of its only grocery store in January 1974, the community opted to form a development corporation to help get a new store built. Dennis joined with other business persons and residents to form the Elkton Development Corp, a group he still is a member of. This corporation began an Elkton Housing Committee to oversee rental housing. Dennis served on this group until this group decided to sell all of its rental housing units in 2014.

Dennis helped organize Cub and Boy Scouting in Elkton in 1984. He served as Webelos Leader, Cub Master, Scout Master and Committee member for over 20 years. He took the Scouts on many camping trips in South Dakota and Minnesota.

Dennis was an active member of the Elkton United Parish Church. He served as a Trustee, Sunday School teacher, Board President, and as a member of the building committee for the new church.

He was a past president of the Commercial Club, assisted in planting over 300 trees in the park and lagoon area. He also served as the first president of the Elkton Jaycees.

Dennis was a member of the Elkton American Legion Glen Stafford Post 198 for 29 years and served as Commander, Adjutant, County Commander, and Treasurer. He directed the establishment of the Elkton Veterans Memorial and continued to order veterans pavers and place them at the Memorial.

Dennis was a devoted husband, father, grandfather, son, brother, uncle and friend. He loved his family and cherished the time they spent together. His five granddaughters were the light of his life and he enjoyed their visits and attending their activities. He enjoyed golf, bowling, Suduko, watching the Twins and Vikings, gardening, cooking, family vacations and get-togethers.

Grateful for having shared his life is his wife of 42 years, Deanna; his son, Jeremy and wife Becky; daughter, Georgianna and husband, Steve Jensen; son, Scott; granddaughters, Chloe, Hannah, and Joselyn Lundgren, Maya and Madelyn Jensen; his mother, Shirley Lundgren; brother, Bruce and wife Renay; sister, Dawn and husband, Scott Wilson, and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Robert Lundgren; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Calvin and Fern Steen; sister and brother-in-law, Janice and Gary Utoft; sister-in-law, Donna (Steen) Drury; and nephew, Joel Lundgren.