Kenneth L. Doyle, age 93, of Flandreau, SD passed away Friday, December 8, 2017 at Avera Flandreau Hospital.
Kenneth Leo Doyle was born July 8, 1924 in Moody County, SD to Joseph Henry and Katherine Louise (Haase) Doyle. He attended the Bell country school and graduated from Egan High School in 1943. As a child he helped on the family farm by driving the team of horses for fieldwork. Kenneth was a proud veteran of WWII. He was inducted into the US Navy on February 23, 1944. Kenneth served in Guam, Ulithi, Carolina Islands and Okinawa. He was a mechanic on Corsair fighter planes. Kenneth was discharged on April 27, 1946 and returned to Moody County. On January 3, 1949 he married Clara Wendehl in Flandreau. They farmed in Clare Township until 1996 when they moved into Flandreau.
Kenneth was a lifetime member of Ss. Simon and Jude Catholic Church. He served on the Cenex Board of Directors, was a Moody County Commissioner, and was a member of both the American Legion Kelley-Porter Post 70, and Moody Post 3351 of the VFW. For many years he served on the Honor Guard, carrying the American flag, and participated in 21-gun salutes at many funerals. On April 16, 2005, the love of his life, wife Clara passed away. Clara had begun teaching Kenneth to cook and he became quite good at it. Kenneth was always a farm boy at heart. He enjoyed his old tractors, but also helped Dale and Carol Tjarks with fieldwork even at 80 + years of age. One of Kenneth’s traditions at Christmastime was making rosettes.
Kenneth is survived by his son: Jim (Brenda) Doyle, Flandreau, SD; two grandsons: Jess (Jenn) Doyle, Custer, SD and Dan (Gretchen) Doyle, Colman, SD; four great grandchildren: Michaela, Morgan, Kaylee and Justin, Custer, SD; one great-great grandson: Declan, Custer, SD; two sisters: Lorraine (Harry) Reaves, Flandreau, SD and Madonna (Ed) Rieder, Sioux Falls, SD; as well as many other family members.
Kenneth was preceded in death by his wife, Clara, his sister, Rose Holvig and four brothers, Donald, Ervin, Harold and Lawrence.
Mass of Christian Burial was held December 12, 2017 at Ss. Simon and Jude Catholic Church with burial in the church cemetery. www.skrochfc.com
