Michael Tietgen

Funeral services for Michael Tietgen were held Tuesday, September 14, 2021, at 10:30 a.m. at the Burke Civic Center in Burke, SD, with Pastor Bill Serr officiating.

Music was provided by Steve and Lisa Mayer, vocalist, accompanied by Jane Tuttle, pianist. Annie Hamilton, Jody Young, Mary Higgins and Elaine Gnirk were in charge of registration.

Casket bearers were Jake Tietgen, Jesse Johnson, Jeff Johnson,Mike Mourer, Marc Rolf, Kent Wells and Todd Cole.

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

Michael Dean Tietgen, 60, of Burke, SD, passed away on Friday, September 10, 2021, at his home after a brief battle with lung cancer. He was born on May 5, 1961, in Burke, SD, to Robert and Luella (Bentz) Tietgen.

Mike was raised and continued to live and work on the family farm south of Burke, SD. Mike attended the Klug Country School until he finished third grade. He then attended the Burke School District with the Class of 1979.

In his youth, Mike and his family raised and trained coon dogs and horses. He enjoyed many hunts and being on the back of his horses along with many friends and family members. If Mike wasn’t on the farm, he was playing baseball. This started his love for the sport. After youth ball, Mike switched to softball and started playing for the Jamison Jackrabbits and later for the Moonlighters softball team.

Mike had many hobbies. He loved a good competitive card game of Pitch and Pinochle. One had to be careful playing with him because he was a card counter, making it difficult to win against him. There wasn’t a family gathering without a game of cards. Mike was an avid gardener and enjoyed cooking for his family.

Family was the most important thing in Mike’s life. Not having his own children until later in life, Mike had a special place in his heart for his nieces and nephews.

Mike was a member of the Ponca Indian tribe. He enjoyed learning and sharing about his heritage.

Mike married Rochelle (Clary) on September 1, 2001. He was the kind of husband that took the time to make the small things special such as a handmade card and flowers for special occasions. Mike had two sons, Sawyer and Morgan. When his boys were younger, their time was spent with special bedtime stories, songs, setting traps for the Easter Bunny, and creating Halloween fun. As they grew Mike shared his love of ranching, baseball, movies and how to make people smile through humor.

Mike is survived by his wife of 20 years, Rochelle Tietgen; two sons Sawyer Tietgen and Morgan Tietgen, all of Burke, SD; Father Robert Tietgen of Burke, SD; brothers Peter Tietgen, Herrick, SD, and Richard (Linda) Tietgen, Burke, SD; sisters Patricia (Jeff Carty) Mourer of Lennox, SD, and Tammy (Duane) Johnson of Arlington, SD and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his mother Luella Tietgen.