Arlan Feistner, 81, Mitchell formerly of Woonsocket, died Saturday, October 29th at Firesteel Nursing Home after a long battle with cancer.  Funeral services will be Thursday, November 3rd, 2016, at 10:30 am at Mitchell Wesleyan Church.  Burial will be in Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Letcher, SD.  Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 pm Wednesday November 2nd with a prayer service at 7:00 pm at Will Funeral Chapel.

Arlan Ray Feistner was born on October 13, 1935, in rural Letcher, SD to Alfred and Ida (Fristad) Feistner.  He grew up on the family farm near Woonsocket, SD.  He attended grades 1-8 at Berg School, 1 year at Lane High School and 3 years at Woonsocket High School.  Arlan went to Augustana College in Sioux Falls for 2 years, then 2 years at SDSU in Brookings graduating with a degree in Agricultural Economics.

Arlan married the love of his life, Verna Faye Johnson, on October 12, 1958 at Victor Lutheran Church rural Mt Vernon, SD.  To this union were born two children, Julie Lynne and James Arlan.  The early years of their marriage were spent in Sioux Falls, SD where Arlan worked for Northwestern Bank from 1958 to 1960.  He then worked for the USDA working in offices in Sioux Falls, Des Moines, Iowa, the national office in Washington DC and Denver, CO.  In 1972 Arlan retired from the USDA to move back to Woonsocket, SD. to the family farm.  He farmed until his retirement December 2013.  He and Verna moved to Mitchell in January 2014 but he still loved to spend the day at the farm.

He was a member of Storla Lutheran Church where he was an active member serving on the church board and singing in Men's Chorus.  They joined Mitchell Wesleyan Church where he enjoyed helping count offering money.

Arlan was involved with many groups and activities during his life.  He was a member of the South Dakota Army National Guard for 6 years, a board member of Tri-County Electric and Central Electric from 1983 to 2010, Storla Sunset Home Board of Directors, The Gideons, Blaine Township Board, Toastmasters Club and Board of Equalization in Jerauld County.

Some of Arlan's most important and favorite things were; his family and friends, his faith in God, his farm, keeping meticulous personal and farm records, pancakes, banana cream pie and strawberry shakes, to name a few.

Grateful to have shared his life are his wife of 58 years, Verna of Mitchell, his daughter Julie (Harvey) Doerr of Mitchell, his son Jim (Connie) Feistner of Woonsocket , his brother Dr. Delvin (Lois) Feistner of Wessington Springs, 7 grandchildren, 4 great-grandchildren, 2 aunts and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents and numerous aunts and uncles.