Dennis Kenzy

Funeral services for Dennis Kenzy were held at 11:00 a.m., Thursday, May 1, 2025, at the Methodist Church in Gregory, SD, with Pastor Thanael Certa-Werner officiating.

Dean Meinen and Robb Kuper were in charge of registration, and flower attendants were Avery McEntee, Alexis McEntee, and Madyson Donaldson. Music was provided by Bette Fogel, accompanist.

Casket bearers were Mark Kenzy, Ryan Kenzy, Myles Kenzy, Bud Brozik, Clayton Whitney, Rod Whitney, and Zane Whitney. Honorary casket bearers were Buster Schuiling, the Old Timer, Cenex staff, sale friends, and special treat friends.

Interment was at Czech National Cemetery in Gregory, SD. Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Dennis Lee Kenzy was born October 11, 1943, in Gregory, SD, the first son of Harry and Inez (Nelson) Kenzy.

Denny either rode his horse or walked over the hill to attend the Lincoln country school through 8th grade. That school closed shortly after his graduation and is now part of the family farm. He attended high school in Gregory, SD and graduated in 1961.

When Denny was 17 he got his first set of cows on shares with his grandfather, Ted Nelson. At that time, he also drove truck for area haulers.

On October 31, 1964, Denny married Joan Smutny in Gregory, SD. They settled and spent the next 60 years on Grandpa Ted’s homestead. To this union were born four children: Mark, Roxanne, Toni, and Ryan.

In 1978, he was proud to participate in and have a John Deere tractor travel in the American Agriculture Movement (AAM) tractorcade from Iona, SD, to Washington, D.C. Nearly 3,000 farmers drove tractors, and the rally attracted more than three million people.

In many aspects, Denny lived the “American Dream.” He knew and felt the love of a 60-year marriage. Together, he and Joan raised four dynamic children while expanding their farming operation. When Denny was not in his tractor, he had a million dollar view out of the picture window of his living room; it has a panoramic view of the steers in the feedlot, the cows and pond in the pasture, and stunning sunsets of the Western skies most evenings.

Denny developed a special knack for spoiling grandkids. He had unlimited 4th of July carnival tickets, ice cream in the freezer, and cookies and donuts at all times. These were perfect treats after borrowing Grandpa’s four wheeler or side-by-side to help get the mail or check the cattle’s water tanks - which usually resulted in finding a mud hole or searching for wildlife.

Denny passed away on April 24, 2025, after a short stay at the Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls. For 81 years, Denny knew no other lifestyle than the one provided on the family farm in rural Iona, SD.

He is survived by his wife, Joan Kenzy; four children: Mark (Brandy Peck) Kenzy, Roxanne (Kelvin Thompsen) Kenzy, Toni (Quenton) McEntee, and Ryan (Britnie) Kenzy; nine grandchildren and great-grandchildren; five siblings: Bob (Sammi) Kenzy, Ted (Jane) Kenzy, Janelle (Allen) Fabbiano, Dianne (Paul) Andrews, and Frank (Jerri Lynn) Kenzy and their families; brothers-in-law Robert Smutny and George Smutny, and sister-in-law Cheryl Smutny and their families.

He was preceded in death by his parents Harry and Inez (Nelson) Kenzy, mother-in-law Annie Smutny, brothers-in-law Joseph Smutny and John Smutny, grandparents Lillian “Granny” Kenzy and Theodore and Pearle Nelson; and aunts Doris Stedham and Joyce LeLaCheur.