Rapid City – Daniel "Dan" Lyle Kennison, 85, passed away late Sunday, March 3, 2024, at Monument Health Rapid City Hospital.

He was born September 24, 1938, in Milbank, SD to Lyle M. and Frances (Dornbusch) Kennison. Dan graduated from Milbank High School in 1957. He was selected to attend Boy's State and was named SD state runner-up by the National Merit Scholarship Foundation. He attended SD School of Mines and Technology and served 8 years in the National Guard.

Dan married Pat Waldron, on June 24, 1961 in Rapid City, and they raised 4 children. He worked as a radio announcer at KOTA in Rapid City, SD, KABR in Aberdeen, SD, and KDIO in Ortonville, MN.  In 1960, he was employed by the Telephone Company in Rapid City. He continued his education in technology related to his field and was a member of the CWA Union. He retired from the Telephone Company in 1999, after 38 ½ years.

Dan especially enjoyed family activities and outings.  Other interests included travel, electronics, photography, computers, and Ham Radio. His enjoyed building robots, tinkering with radio-controlled planes, and he built the family's first color TV from a Heath Kit.

He served his community before and during the 1972 flood as a member of REACT.  Dan (KØDLK) was a member of the Black Hills Amateur Radio Club and also Telephone Company Pioneers.  He even got his Private Pilot's License.

Dan is survived by his wife of 62 years, Pat Kennison, Rapid City; his children Connie Janzen, Rapid City, Paula Kennison, Rapid City, Dave (Denise) Kennison, Hermosa and Steve Kennison, Rapid City; his grandchildren, William (Laura) Janzen, Rapid City, Tori (Richelle) Tahsler, Rapid City, James (Elizabeth) Janzen, Rapid City, and Trevor (Cherokee) Kennison, Rapid City; his great-grandchildren, Zoey Janzen, Rapid City, Rowan Janzen, Rapid City, Benjamin Knapek, Winter Haven, FL, Ashton Kennison, Rapid City, Finnegan Janzen, Rapid City, and Kyro Kennison, Rapid City; a niece and several nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lyle and Frances  (Dornbusch) Kennison, Milbank, SD; his sister, Joyce (Kennison) Steffen and her husband, Al Steffen of Larimore, ND, and his grandson, Tyler Kennison, Hermosa, SD.

In lieu of flowers a Memorial will be established.

Visitation will be 4:00 to 6:00 pm Friday, March 8, 2024 at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home.

Funeral Mass will be 11:00 am Saturday, March 9, 2024 at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church.

Burial will be Monday March 11, 2024.

Arrangements with Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home.