Inez Dockendorf

A Mass of Christian burial for Inez Dockendorf, of Burke, SD, was held at 10:00 a.m. on Saturday, May 17, 2025, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Burke, SD, with Fr. Ron Garry officiating. Ashton Dockendorf, Paula Dockendorf, and Tessa Burke were lectors. Inez’s grandchildren presented the gifts, and Trystan Johnson and Emmy Spencer were altar servers. Lee Dockendorf, Brian Leitheiser, Jeremy Wyland, Parker Burke, Dillon Jensen, Brandon Burg, and Logan Dockendorf were casket bearers. Honorary casket bearers were those who provided Inez with exceptional care in the nursing home: Uduak (Ukay) Ekpe, Evans Onieki, Serriah Stroud, Gwen Thomas, Jessica Palmeno, Jacquelyn Burnett, Tara Keal, Yolanda Anderson, Jaisa Snyder, Creshenda Corley, Sandie Infante, and Mary Vaughn.

Music was provided by the Sacred Heart Catholic Church choir with Pat Thiry as organist. Marlyn and Chris Campbell were in charge of registration.

Interment was at Graceland Cemetery in Burke, SD. Clausen Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Inez was the first of five children born to Joseph and Leona (Grimm) Melom. She grew up in Velva, ND. She graduated from Velva High School in 1967, then moved to Rapid City, SD, to further her education at National College of Business. This is where she met the love of her life, Ronald Dockendorf. On September 2, 1968, they were married in the lumberyard in Platte, SD, which served as a temporary house of worship while the Catholic Church was being remodeled at the time.

Following a brief honeymoon at the SD State Fair, they made their home in Burke, SD, where Ron would begin a 47-year career at Missouri Valley Mutual Insurance Company, and Inez would settle into a 40-year career with the SD Department of Social Services. Ron and Inez remained in Burke their entire 56 years of marriage.

In 1969, their oldest son Timothy was born, followed by a second son, Darrel, in 1970. Their daughter Kimberly was born in 1975, and in 1977, a third son, Lonny, completed their family.

Over the decades, Inez, Ron, and kids spent many days camping and fishing their beloved Missouri River. Inez’s greatest passions were planting and nurturing her flower garden each summer and sewing or cross stitching through the long winters. She is very well known for her famous potato salad.

Inez had a beautiful voice, and used it for many years to help lead the parishioners of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in song at weekly Mass.

Inez and Ron raised their family with a devout Catholic faith and trust in God no matter the storm. The family’s faith was ultimately tested upon the tragic death of son Darrel in 1992, at the age of 21. Even through death, Inez said she felt God had answered her prayers for Darrel, and she trusted Him always.

Inez and Ron took a special retirement trip to Alaska in August of 2017, a few months before her stroke. In August of 2018, they were joined by their kids and grandkids on a trip to Florida to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary. On September 2, 2023, Inez and Ron celebrated their 55th wedding anniversary with their family and friends at an open house and anniversary Mass in their honor in Burke.

Inez battled the effects of Parkinson’s Disease for decades. The disease really took hold of her following a stroke on the morning of December 24, 2017, necessitating her move into the Winner Regional Long Term Care Center shortly after, in February 2023.

Inez passed away May 12, 2025, at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls, at the age of 76.

She is survived by her husband Ron; sons Tim (Amy) Dockendorf and Lonny (Kandi) Dockendorf; daughter Kim (Robert) Hanson; grandchildren Karli (Brandon) Burg, Dillon (Katie) Jensen, Hannah Hanson, Lindsey Dockendorf, Hayley Hanson, and Logan Dockendorf; siblings Eunice (Mike) Vance, Thelma (Jim) Lehman, Grace (Lynn) Watne, and Neil (Marlene) Melom; numerous nieces, nephews, and their families.

Inez was preceded in death by her son Darrel Dockendorf; her parents Joe and Leona Melom; in-laws Leo and Frances Dockendorf; brotherin- law and sister-in-law Leon and Carolynn Dockendorf; and one niece Tammy Leitheiser.