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Obituary
John Donald Rist was born May 3, 1960 to Donald and Mary (Gjere) Rist in Sioux Falls, SD. He graduated from Centerville High School in 1978 and went on to receive his Animal Science and Agronomy degrees from South Dakota State University in 1982.
He grew up on the family sheep farm, working with his father to build the Hampshire, Suffolk, and commercial flocks of Rist Farms. John brought his daughters into the fold, teaching them everything he could about raising and showing sheep.
John loved to travel and spent a year living and working on sheep farms around the world – France, Australia, and New Zealand. His professional career included working for Farmers Hybrid, managing Advanced Prescription Fertilizer in Hurley, SD, and teaching agriculture at Bowdle, SD; Luverne, MN; Viborg and Viborg-Hurley, SD.
John believed in the future of agriculture and spent his life cultivating passions for agriculture and education in his students. Over the years he transformed the small Viborg FFA program into a perennial competitor. He enriched the lives of hundreds of students by showing them tough love, being a fierce ally, and helping every student find their place and their passion.
His extraordinary efforts were recognized across the state and the nation as he served on the SDACTE and SDAAE boards, was a national finalist for the Carl Perkins Community Service Award, received the Governor's Citation for Community Development, and was recognized as the SDAAE Outstanding Middle/Secondary Program.
John's life will be treasured by his three daughters Noelle (Andrew) Swanson of Frankfort, SD, Jenna (Eric Valasek) of Sunnyvale, CA, and Alicia (Ben Blair) of Royal, IA; two grandsons Stetsen and Corbin Swanson; two sisters Helen (Steve) Ebsen of Sioux City, IA, and Pat (Tim) Locken of Burnsville, MN; his mother Mary (Gjere) Rist of Viborg, SD; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his father Donald.
Funeral services will be 1PM Sunday, March 18, 2018 at the Viborg School gymnasium. Visitation will be 4-7PM Saturday, March 17th at First English Lutheran Church in Centerville with a prayer service at 7PM. The family requests that any memorials would be sent in John's name to Merchants State Bank,
103 N Main St, Viborg, SD 57070
.
To order memorial trees in memory of John Rist, please visit our tree store.
Services
Visitation
March
17
First English Lutheran Church
4:00 - 7:00 pm
John Rist's Guestbook
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