Dennis Meier, 78, of Rapid City, SD, passed away peacefully at his home on March 22, 2026.

Dennis was born September 18th, 1947 in Wishek, North Dakota and grew up on the family farmstead. He attended NDSU in Fargo, ND and earned a Bachelor of Arts and Science degree. Dennis met Constance Rheault and they were married in Fargo on July 27th, 1968. He started his career teaching and coaching in McClusky, ND before moving to Brainerd, MN to work in hospital administration.

In 1977, the Meiers moved to Fargo, ND, where Dennis continued working in healthcare administration. During this time, he was an avid NDSU Bison fan as well as a constant fixture at sporting events for his children through their years at Shanley High School.

In 1993, Dennis and Connie moved to Rapid City, SD where Dennis advanced his career as an independent businessman by starting Innovative Home Healthcare agency and owning the business, Cash and Go, until his retirement in 2012.

Dennis was a man of service. He was actively involved in the Jaycees in Brainerd and was a lifetime member of the Lion’s Club International. He also spent countless volunteer hours with the Boy Scouts, Habitat for Humanity, Feeding South Dakota and the Black Hills Runners Club.

Dennis was an accomplished runner, completing 54 marathons over four decades and placed first in his age group many times. He also enjoyed biking and hiking many miles in the beautiful Black Hills of SD with close friends and family. He set very high physical goals for himself and completed a solo “rim to rim and back again” hike of the Grand Canyon in less than 24 hours (just for fun)! In 2018, Dennis and Connie completed the 500-mile Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage in Spain in 30 days.

Throughout his entire life, Dennis held a great passion for hunting. From a very young age, he spent his happiest times pheasant and deer hunting with family and friends. The comradery of the hunt and time spent with his black lab hunting dogs, Thor and Ace, were some of his greatest joys and truly his time of peace. Dennis was a member of a special group of hunters that were so dear to his heart. He hosted an annual hunting trip, the “Dakota Pheasant Classic” for 40 years in honor of his father and his deep ND roots. He fostered his love of the land and animals with numerous conservation projects in ND that improved animal habitat and future hunting experiences for his children and grandchildren.

Dennis is survived by his loving wife of 57 years, Connie Meier; children: Jason (Chalaine) Meier and JoEllen (Michael) Keegan; grandchildren, Taylor and Hayden Meier and Owen and Collin Keegan; sisters: Rosie (Tim) Owens and Donna Pfeifer; and extended family and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Adam and Mary (Schmidt) Meier, and sister, Connie (Dan) Coddington. 

A Vigil Service will be at 6:30 pm on Thursday, April 16, 2026 at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home, 2700 Jackson Blvd., in Rapid City.

Funeral services will be offered at 10:00 am on Friday, April 17th, at Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church, 4500 Jackson Blvd., in Rapid City.

Memorial donations may be made to Black Hills Habitat for Humanity at https://secure.qgiv.com/for/one-timegift/ in honor of Dennis.