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Funeral services will take place on Friday, December 27, 2019 at 1:00 PM (Mountain).

Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Philip, South Dakota

Saturday, December 28, 2019
2:00 p.m. CDT
St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery
Zell, South Dakota
A rosary service will be held from 12:30 p.m. MDT on Friday, December 27, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Philip.



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In memory of

John McKay

of Sturgis formerly of Huron, South Dakota, died on Friday, December 20, 2019 at the Rapid City Regional Hospital at the age of 78

John McKay was born August 29, 1941, in Pierre, South Dakota, to A.D. (Archie) and Lydia McKay. In 1944, after two years of living in Ft. Pierre with his parents, they moved to Philip, South Dakota, where his family owned and operated McKay Clothing Store.


On June 22, 1963, John married the love of his life, Marilyn Weiss, in Wall, South Dakota. They resided in Spearfish, South Dakota while John finished his college education at Black Hills Teachers College. After graduating from college in 1966, they moved to Alpena, South Dakota, where John accepted his first teaching and coaching position. John enjoyed playing all sports, but coaching was his passion. He retired in 2001, from Wolsey High School in Wolsey, South Dakota, after dedicating 35 years of his life to this career.

John spent many summers adjusting crop insurance claims. He eventually started his own crop insurance agency, which he and Marilyn owned and operated, along with his daughter, Shelli Moore, and his son-in-law, Steve Duncan, until his passing. He thought of those who entrusted their business with him, not as customers, but as family. He did everything in his power to ensure their interests were protected, as if they were his own. As he requested, and in his honor, Marilyn, Shelli and Steve will continue to operate the business as he would.


John enjoyed participating in many outdoor activities. In addition to sports, he also loved roping, fishing, hunting, and gardening. He was also an avid Green Bay Packers and L.A. Dodgers fan. But it was most important to him to support and cheer on Marilyn’s barrel racing and his grandchildren’s sports activities. He tried to never miss one of their events, whether it was being there in person or streaming a game on the Internet.


After living on an acreage in Huron, South Dakota, for 41 years, they moved to an acreage near Sturgis, South Dakota, with their five horses and cat, Moe, in 2016. Although John had a bucket list of activities he wanted to partake in while living in the Black Hills, his health would not allow him to do many of them. Those who love him are comforted by knowing he is now able to enjoy all the things he could not do before.


John was a member of Saint Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Sturgis, South Dakota.


Grateful for sharing his life are his wife, Marilyn; two daughters, Shelli Moore (Les) of Sturgis, South Dakota, and Jackie (Steve) Duncan of Watertown, South Dakota; one grandson, Taylor Duncan of Waseca, Minnesota; one granddaughter, Danielle Duncan of Sioux Falls, South Dakota; two sisters, Mary Lou (Mark) Fellows of Tacoma, Washington, and Susan (Lee) Bandel of Charlotte, North Carolina; many nieces and nephews, and a host of additional family members and friends.


John was preceded in death by his parents, his Aunt, Ida (Pete) (Millard) Weeks, and his special friend, Moe.

A rosary service will be held at 12:30 MDT on Friday, December 27, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Philip.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 1:00 p.m. MDT on Friday, December 27, at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Philip with Father Gary Oreshoski as celebrant assisted by Deacon Lloyd Frein.

Interment will be at 2:00 p.m. CDT on Saturday, December 28, St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Zell, South Dakota with Father Tom Anderson officiating.

ROSARY SERVICE
Friday, December 27, 2019 -12:30 MDT
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Philip, South Dakota

MASS OF CHRISTIAN BURIAL
Friday, December 27, 2019 - 1:00 p.m. MDT
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Philip, South Dakota

CELEBRANT
Father Gary Oreshoski
assisted by Deacon Lloyd Frein

MUSIC
Beth Mertens - Vocalist
Donna Kinsley - Cantor
"On Eagles Wings"
"Amazing Grace"
"How Great Thou Art"
"The Old Rugged Cross"

GIFT BEARERS
Susan Bandel - Mary Lou Fellows

PALLBEARERS
Steve Duncan - Taylor Duncan
Les Moore - Matt Moser
Don Burns - Darrell Barry

HONORARY PALLBEARERS
All Relatives and Friends in Attendance

INTERMENT
Saturday, December 28, 2019
2:00 p.m. CDT
St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery
Zell, South Dakota
Father Tom Anderson officiating

  • Marilyn & Girls- so very sorry to hear of John's passing. I don't think I have a memory of a horse show or barrel race that Marilyn was at that John wasn't there by her side. Hugs and prayers- Bobbi Jo ~ Bobbi Jo (Amdahl) Williams Box Elder, SD (1/2/2020)
  • So sorry to hear about your loss. I taught with John at Wolsey where he was the boys BB coach and I was the girls coach. We spent a lot of time together discussing games and strategy. He was like a mentor to me and I will be forever grateful. Wolsey would not have won the girls state championship without his guidance and advice. Our thoughts and prayers are with your family. ~ John & Kathy Streifel Eureka, SD (12/28/2019)
  • Streifel ~ John & Kathy Eureka, SD (12/28/2019)
  • Our thoughts and prayers are with the McKay Family. ~ Dennis & Susan Walsh Miami, Florida (12/27/2019)
  • Worked with John for many years at Wolsey High. Hold the memories close and remember how he loved life. ~ Carolyn Hiles Wolsey, SD (12/27/2019)
  • Thoughts and prayers. Keep your memories close and share them. Hugs!
     ~ Rich and Annette Dalzell Lemmon, SD (12/27/2019)
  • Marilyn and family~I am so sorry for your loss. John was a stand-up guy. I always enjoyed our conversations and will miss him dearly. Prayers for comfort during this difficult time. ~ Joy Dale Moorhead, MN (12/26/2019)
  • MN ~ Joy Dale Moorhead (12/26/2019)
  • I am so sorry for your loss. Thoughts and prayers to your family. ~ Lisa Danforth Garretson, SD (12/26/2019)
  • Our deepest sympathy to Marilyn, Shelli, Jackie, and all the McKay family. Sharon and I had the privilege of working with John in the Wolsey School system. John and I had many enjoyable visits in my office at Wolsey High School. ~ Duwane Decker Frankfort, SD (12/26/2019)
  • Frankfort, SD ~ Duwane Decker Sharon Decker (12/26/2019)
  • As a kid growing up in Philip, I spent considerable time in the McKay back yard playing basketball with John and the neiborhood kids. His dad (Archie) had put up a basketball rim and backboard above their garage door and lots of kids enjoyed it. I was, "paper boy" to the McKays and Mrs. McKay would always make sure that she left a Christmas present behind the storm door. The McKay family was a respected Philip family and I will always remember them fondly. Getting older makes each loss of a friend or acquaintance more difficult. ~ Wayne Hansen Rapid City (12/24/2019)
  • I taught with John at Wolsey. I coached girl's basketball and he coached boy's basketball. They lived near our home and Shelly was a classmate of my daughter Deana.My sympathy to Marilyn and family. May memories help ease the pain of his loss. ~ Darlene Kutzler Huron, SD (12/24/2019)
  • Mr. McKay was my teacher, basketball and football coach while I was at Wolsey High School, and he was a teacher with my mom, Marlys Diegel. Mr. McKay was a great influence on me. Rest In Peace Mr. McKay. ~ Rick Diegel Steele, North Dakota (12/24/2019)
  • Went to school with John from 1947 through 1958. He and his family were good neighbors in Philip for many years. He was a good friend and always enjoyed being around him. All the best to John's family. ~ Joe Murphy Las Vegas, NV (12/23/2019)
  • Joyce and Ed Buchholz ~ Our deepest sympathy to all of John's family. Our thoughts and prayers (12/23/2019)
  • Our Prayers and Thoughts. Sorry for your Loss. ~ Ralph & Cathy Fiedler Sturgis, SD (12/22/2019)
  • Uncle John
    With greatest respect and admiration , I am proud to be your nephew
    Blessings to all of the family
    Bobby     ~ Robert Weiss Pierre SD (12/22/2019)
  • I remember the entire wonderful family as a kid in Philip, 1950s-1960s. ~ M. R. Hansen Philip, SD (12/22/2019)