David Steffen

David was born June 9 1946, in Burke SD, to John and Velma (Wilson) Steffen. David and his sister Mildred were the third generation Steffens to live on the land homesteaded by Fritz and Ottelia Steffen in 1904.

David John Steffen, 74, of Burke SD, died at Monument Health Hospice House in Rapid City, SD, March 23, 2021 after battling cancer.

David went to school in Burke, graduating in 1964. He went on to SDSU and graduated in 1969 with a BS in Animal Science. During his college years he enrolled in R.O.T.C. and upon graduation was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant. He was stationed in Anchorage Alaska serving on Site Summit in the Chugach Mountain Range, where he fulfilled his 2-year-commitment to the US Army. One year in to his tour he returned to SD on leave to marry Jeanne (Williams), in Pierre SD, on June 13, 1970. The couple returned to Anchorage for another year.

David and Jeanne returned to SD where David began his career with USDA as a soil conservationist in the Mitchell field office. One year later he accepted a position in White River, SD, where he served as District Conservationist for 23 years. Three sons were born to the couple during their years in White River.

David received many awards during his years as District Conservationist in Mellette and Todd Counties. As a member of the Society Range Management, he used his education and training to promote range resource management on the farms and ranches of Mellette and Todd counties. He worked closely with district boards in both counties he served and was nominated by them for the 1990 Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award, and was instrumental in organizing the annual tours of grazing systems and ranchers workshops and worked closely with the local conservation districts; The SD Extension Service, NIA; The Rosebud Sioux Tribe; Department of Water and Natural Resources; Game, Fish and Parks; County Commissioners, and state and local legislators. As a strong supporter of the Great Plains Conservation Program, developed approximately 80 contracts. He also initiated the program called “Bootstraps: Ranching the 90’s,” which helped families develop long-term range plans for their farms and ranches.

David was a hobbyist beekeeper, a volunteer fireman, an avid hunter and fisherman, he built saddles, and did other leather work, enjoyed trail riding and wagon trains, was a member of the Lion’s Club, American Legion, Mellette County Sportsman’s Club, Pine Creek Roping Club and helped start the Mellette County Historical Society.

David missed the military life when he was discharged from the US Army, so he joined the South Dakota National Guard in 1972. He served as an Air Observer in Pierre, and then transferred duties to the Selective Service section where he remained until his retirement in 1992 as a Lieutenant Colonel.

In 1995 David and his family moved back to the Steffen homestead, and continued working for the NRCS office as a range conservationist, where he traveled the state, advising ranchers. He retired from the NRCS in 2002, and started a consulting business, specializing in range inventory. He also helped start the South Dakota Grassland Coalition, and the SD Grazing School, later becoming an advisor working with those who attended the grazing school.

David was instrumental in creating the Mid Missouri Ban Association to control cedar trees in Gregory County, and was an active member of the association until his death.

David’s interests continued to grow after moving to Burke, they included developing a community garden in Burke, as well as a farmers market, Cowboy fast draw, raising quail, baking bread, tying flies for fly fishing, he continued his enjoyment of chuck wagon cooking by cooking the meat for the Burke Stampede Rodeo Feed. His love of fishing encouraged him to build his own stock dam, which is open to the public. David, with the help of his neighbor Roy Stevicks, designed and built steel pens that David used to house pasture poultry. He and his wife raised 600 chickens a summer in the pens. The couple raised and butchered chickens for about ten years.

The Steffen homestead celebrated being a Centennial farm in 2004. David had long dreamed of building a straw bale building, and decided to build an office/storage building in the location of the original sod house his grandfather built when he moved his family here from Nebraska. The Fritz and Ottellia Steffen family consisted of ten children. A larger home was built in 1911. David’s dream came to fruition with the help of family friends and neighbors, with year of planning and was ready by the Centennial Celebration over the 4th of July in 2004.

David is survived by his wife of 50 years Frances Jeanne (Williams) Steffen, sons, Mark Steffen of Burke, and Brian Steffen of White River, three grandchildren; Brittany Steffen of White River, Chloe Goodall, of Dapto, NSW, Australia, and Bradley Steffen of Kimball SD, sister, Mildred (Steffen) Saboe of Williow Lake SD, nieces and nephews.

David was preceded in death by his parents; John and Velma Steffen, and son John William Steffen.

The family plans to hold a summertime celebration of life for David, and will have the date posted on Facebook and in the newspaper. Military honors will also be done at that time.