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Reverend Donald W. Rahn, age 79, of Watertown, SD, passed away on Tuesday, August 18, 2009 at a Sioux Falls, SD hospital. Memorial services were held on Friday, at 11:00 a.m. at the First United Methodist Church with Reverend Joel Higgins officiating. Music was provided by the First United Methodist Church Chancel Choir accompanied by Dorothy Brugman, and an organ solo by Blair Titze. Interment in Mt. Hope Cemetery, Watertown, SD, prior to the services. Visitation was held on Thursday, from 4:00-8:00 p.m., with a prayer service and a time of sharing at 7:00 p.m., followed by Masonic Rites provided by Ionic Lodge #83 of AF & AM at the Wight, Comes & Sogn Funeral Chapel.
The family requests memorials to be designated to the Shriners Hospital for Children or Nomads.
Active pallbearers were his grandchildren, Garrett Rahn, Christopher Rahn, Jr., Joshua Rahn, Ethan Rahn, Clarissa Rahn, Logan Rahn and Lexa Rahn.
Honorary pallbearers were Ministers and Shrine Chanters.
Donald Wilson Rahn was born on September 7, 1929 to Donald W. and Evelyn (Mansfield) Rahn, Sr. at Flandreau, South Dakota. He grew up in Flandreau and was raised primarily by his grandparents. Don graduated from Flandreau High School in 1947 and then attended Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, SD and graduated with a BA degree in 1953.
His ministry began as a Student Minister, Approved Supply in 1951. He served congregations in Artesian-Farwell from 1952-1953, Fulton-Farmer from 1953-1954, Tripp-Delmont from 1954-1959, Corona-Peever-Summit from 1959-1960, and Cresbard-Scatterwood from 1960-1964. He was a ordained Deacon in 1961, a Full Member in 1962 and an ordained Elder in 1963. He was then appointed to the Garrett Theological Seminary in 1964, graduating with a BD degree in 1968. While attending the Seminary Don served in Raub, Indiana. He also served in Miller-Greenleaf in 1968, Fairfax-Naper, NE (UCC) in 1970, Gettysburg from 1973-1985, Webster-Bristol in 1985, and Hitchcock-Broadland in 1991. He was an ordained United Methodist Church minister for 35 years retiring in 1993 at the Watertown First Charge Conference.
He volunteered in Missions--Nomads in 1995-2005 and served on the Conference Board of Global Ministries for 18 years. He was a member of Masons, Shrine Chanters and was a former member of Rotary and Kiwanis.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his stepmother, Fern Hardesty Rahn; an infant brother; and his mother-in-law, Lucy Haskell of Conde.
He is survived by his wife, Marilyn; one daughter, Elizabeth Rahn of Centerville; three sons, Richard (Ann) Rahn of Sioux Falls, Christopher (Diedra) Rahn of Centerville, and Jeffrey (Laurie) Rahn of Sioux Falls; his adopted AFS son, Shuck Chin Wah of Singapore; and seven grandchildren, Garrett, Chris Jr., Joshua, Ethan, Clarissa, Logan and Lexa Rahn.
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