Allen DeWolf

Funeral services for Allen “Randy” DeWolf were held on Thursday, October 06, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. at the Civic Center in Burke, SD.

Burial was in the Graceland Cemetery in Burke, SD. Clausen Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Randy was born on March 23, 1945 in Sioux Falls, SD, to Conrad and Ercel (Sunding) DeWolf. He was baptized and confirmed at the Methodist Church in Highmore, SD. Highmore is where he grew up and graduated from high school. Randy excelled in all sports (basketball, football, and track). He received the nickname “Mr. Outside “in football because of his ability to get outside with his speed on the toss sweep.

Randy attended college at Southern State Teacher College in Springfield, SD. In 1967, he moved to Burke, SD, where he met Linda Frank. They were married on November 23, 1968, at Grace Lutheran Church in Burke, SD, and enjoyed almost 54 years of marriage together. After they were married, he received his masters in education from the University of South Dakota.

Randy started teaching at Burke High School in 1967, and in later years became the principal until he retired in 2007. Randy instituted the sixth to eighth grade middle school concept and was on the forefront of getting block scheduling so surrounding schools could share teachers. He also implemented the first schoolwide computer program in Burke.

Randy coached multiple sports including basketball, football, track and golf. During the 1972-73 season, he coached the boys’ basketball team to a #2 ranking with a record of 20-0. Randy led the Bulldog football team to six straight regional finals and a trip to the dome with a runner-up finish in 1987. His overall record at that time was 65-17. In 1988, he was named Region 8’s Football Head Coach of the Year by the High School Football Coaches Association. Randy led the womens’ golf team to three State Championship titles in 1994, 1996, and 2003, and three second place finishes in 1998, 2000, and 2001. He also coached the boys’ golf team to a State Championship in 1994. Randy was recognized by the South Dakota Golf Coaches Association as the Golf Coach of the Year from 1997-2005. Randy was inducted into the SESD Coaches Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, he had to give up his passion for coaching due to health issues. He loved watching them compete in sporting events and was always there to provide support and advice.

Randy had a passion for the Burke Golf Course. He was instrumental in planting trees, installing underground sprinklers, and completing various other projects that have made the course the beautiful public asset it is today. One of Randy’s favorite times of the year was the Burke Dog Days. He enjoyed running the alumni friends and family golf tournaments, and truly enjoyed having all his family and friends back for the weekend festivities. He had a love for fantasy football and talking to Jeff on game days to strategize about who they would play that week. He enjoyed grilling and happy hours at “Loopy’s Beverage Center” and any other place he could find an ice-cold beer. Another hobby of his was officiating basketball games with Mike Dacy. There are a lot of stories about these days that they would go back and forth on. It certainly wasn’t uncommon for them to get booed or even chased out of the gym for “bad calls”.

Allen “Randy” DeWolf, age 77, of Burke, SD passed away on September 30, 2022, at the Sanford Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD.

Randy was preceded in death by his mother Ercel. He is survived by his wife Linda DeWolf of Burke, SD; son and daughter- in-law Jeff and Teresa DeWolf of Akron, IA; daughter Casey Bailey of Platte, SD; daughter and son-in-law Abbey and Chris Mikkelsen of Sioux Falls, SD; grandchildren Parker, Jye, Knox, Nyla, and step-grandchildren Jackson, Presley, and Joel; and many brothers-in-law, sistersin-law, nieces, and nephews.