Rev. Glenn Denke

Reverend Glenn Robert Denke was born November 23, 1949 in Rapid City, South Dakota to Robert and Tillila (Eisenbraun) Denke.

Glenn grew up in Wall, South Dakota and was baptized on December 11, 1949 and confirmed on March 22, 1964 at the First Lutheran Church of Wall. He graduated from Wall High School on May 23, 1968. He held several jobs growing up including working at the Wall Grocery Store and The Creamery where he helped farmers wash cream cans.

Glenn attended a year of college at SDSU in Brookings before joining the United States Air Force in March of 1971. He worked as an electronic analyst technician for the Minuteman Missile Program. He was team lead at the first successful test launch of the Minuteman III missile in California on October 25, 1974. He was honorably discharged in January of 1975. He returned to SDSU and graduated with a degree in Electrical Engineer in May of 1978.

Glenn was called to the Fort Wayne Seminary in June of 1978 and graduated with a Master of Divinity in 1982 and became a Pastor of Missouri Synod Lutheran Churches. He led churches in Montana, Nebraska, Iowa and South Dakota over the course of his life. In 2015 Glenn retired from clergy work and moved to Winner, South Dakota where he became known as Glenn the snack man. He loved to give anyone a treat (an apple, an orange, homemade cookies, etc.) that he always carried with him anywhere he went.

Some of his hobbies included eating good food, visiting former church members in a variety of states, meeting new people, and making new friends. Glenn enjoyed attending 4-H events, plays, or anything else that allowed him to get out into the Winner community. He loved traveling, especially to historic places, to enhance his knowledge of history. Glenn was a member of the Lions Service Club.

He was an analog man lost in a digital age. Many also said he had a twisted sense of humor like his mother did.

Survivors include his two sisters, Joyce Hart of Philip and Eileen Torkelson of Wall; brother, Paul (Lurene) Denke of Pierre; sister-in-law, Muriel Denke of San Diego, CA; and a host of nieces, nephews and other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; infant sister, Luella; brother, Bill Denke; sister, Darlene Baye; and brothers-in-law: Kenneth “Kenny” Baye, David “Dave” Hart, and Orrin Torkelson.

Funeral services will be held 3:00 p.m. CDT Friday, April 17, at Christ Lutheran Church in Winner, with visitation one hour prior to the services.

Military graveside services will be held 10:30 a.m. Saturday, April 18, at the Wall Cemetery. Everyone is welcome to gather at the Rush Funeral Chapel in Wall for a visitation from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. and then process to the cemetery for the graveside services.

A luncheon will follow the graveside services at the First Lutheran Church in Wall.

In Lieu of flowers contributions in Pastor Glenn's name can be made to Main Street Living (https://www.mainstreetliving.com/make-a-contribution/) and SD District Seminary Student Aid Fund (https://secure.myvanco.com/L-ZXFQ/campaign/C-160Q4).

Service Details

FUNERAL SERVICE
Friday, April 17, 2026 - 3:00 p.m. CDT
Christ Lutheran Church
Winner, South Dakota

CLERGY
Rv. Randy Sturzenbecher - Celebrant
Rev. Marcus Ring - Preacher
Rev. Wade Harr - Liturgist

LECTOR
Rev. David Otten

MUSIC
Lisa Odenbach - Organist
“Precious Lord, Take My Hand”
“Awake, My Heart, with Gladness”
“This Joyful Eastertide”
“Lord, Thee I Love With All My Heart”

USHERS
Church Elders

PALLBEARERS
Rev. Glenn’s Fellow Clergy
Rev. Ray Greenseth - Rev. Donald McKillop
Rev. Andres Utecht - Rev. Marcus Ring
Rev. Gregory Hinners - Rev. Randy Sturzenbecher

HONORARY PALLBEARERS
All Relatives and Friends in Attendance

GRAVESIDE SERVICE
WITH MILITARY HONORS
Saturday, April 18, 2026 - 10:30 a.m. MDT
Wall Cemetery
Wall, South Dakota
Visitation will be held one hour prior at the Rush Funeral Chapel in Wall. Following the graveside service everybody is welcome to First Lutheran Church in Wall for a luncheon and time of fellowship.

Guest Book

Flowers