November 11, 1949 – May 7, 2024
Funeral services for Dennis William John Gehring, 74, of McIntosh were held Wednesday, May 15, 2024 at Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge.
Interment was at the McIntosh City Cemetery. Dennis died on Tuesday, May 7, 2024 on his farm near McIntosh.
Dennis William John Gehring was born to John and Lydia (Moser) Gehring on November 11, 1949, in McLaughlin. He lived most of his life in the McIntosh area.
He was his Dad and Grandpa (William) Moser’s farmhand for most of his young life. He saved his Grandpa Moser’s life when he was 10 years old when he was unloading grain.
He started custom harvesting in his mid to late teens with a harvesting crew, then started his own crew after he graduated from McIntosh High School in 1968 and did combining for about 30 years. Dennis, his brother Curtis, and his dad John farmed and ranched together for about 20 years.
Dennis was an amazing woodworker like his father. Dennis started trucking in the late 90’s. He hauled hay and livestock until 2016.
In 2019, he had valve replacement surgery at Mayo Clinic, which extended his life by five years. Dennis stayed with his daughter Dana in Mission off and on, where he met several friends and worked on fixerupper projects. Dennis’s pride and joy were his five children and two grandchildren.
A father, son, papa, stepdad, brother, uncle, cousin, friend, and significant other…. He held many titles to all who loved him, and he will never be forgotten.
Dennis is survived by three daughters: Denise Gehring, Dana Gehring, and Jaycee Gehring (NateThompson); significant other Penney Leetch; two step-children, Jessie Ahlers and Josh Leetch (Jamie Pullum); two grandchildren, Axle (“his little buddy”) and Baylor; three sisters: Charlotte (Donnie) Moser, Joyce (Dave) Frazier, Donna (Don) Mott; two brothers, Curtis (Annette) Gehring and Fritz (Rita) Gehring; numerous nieces and nephews; three aunts Violet (Moser) Bronson, Irene (Moser) Heinrich, Shirley (Moser) Stoecker, numerous cousins; and many grand-dogs.
Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, John and Lydia Gehring; grandparents William and Justina (Schweigert) Moser, Godfred and Christina (Schmeier) Gehring; former wife Janet (Doan) Gehring; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.