Don Ray Zweygardt, 67, resident of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, passed away
unexpectedly on Sunday, January 1, 2023, at his home.
A Celebration of Life in his honor was held January 13 th at the Heartland
Funeral Home in Brandon, South Dakota.
Friends and family are invited to attend a funeral service for Don on Saturday,
March 11 th , 11:00 a.m. at the Salem Lutheran Church northwest of St. Francis,
Kansas. Interment of his ashes will take place at the church cemetery following the
service.
Don was born on November 8, 1955, in St. Francis, Kansas, to Victor and
Darlene (Raile) Zweygardt, and baptized at the Salem Lutheran Church on
December 4 of that year. The first years of his life were spent on the family farm
northwest of St. Francis in Cheyenne County, in an area where his German
ancestors immigrated to in the late 1800s/early 1900s from the Black Sea area of
South Russian, near what is now Odessa, Ukraine.
In 1963, Don's family, who included his older sister, Susan, and younger sister,
Cathy, moved to town. With an extended family of many local aunts, uncles and
cousins, playing cards at pinochle parties and feasting on large family dinners and
church potlucks were staple activities for Don while growing up. He excelled at
school and was proudly honored Valedictorian of his sixth grade class (he even
wrote a speech!). During high school, he was on Honor Roll all four years, was
active in numerous organizations, and participated in multiple sports. The highlight
of his high school track career was placing 6 th in the 440 at the Kansas state track
meet his senior year. Don graduated from St. Francis Community High School in
1973. He then went on to graduate from Brown-Mackie Business College (Salina,
KS) with a Certificate in Business Administration in 1974.
Don worked for several years as general operations manager at the Elks Club in
Goodland, KS, before moving on to other job opportunities in Cheyenne, WY. He
eventually found his forever home in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, in 2001. Don
began working at the Argus Leader newspaper as a Senior District Manager that
same year. He loved his job and his co-workers, and won numerous awards and
recognitions from the newspaper. Words used to describe him by fellow employees
included, "great guy, always cracking a joke, big team player, work ethic second to
none — everybody loved Don."
While he definitely worked hard, Don enjoyed spending time with his long-
time, close and special companion, Kelly Kots, as well as other friends and family
whenever he could. He looked forward to family gatherings every year — and
there wasn't a Hawaiian shirt he wouldn't wear, or a hairy chest contest he

wouldn't take part in (and win!), when going on cruises with his sisters and
brothers-in-law, nephews, niece-in-laws and, at times, children.
Whether he was in his Dad's overalls singing personalized "Hee Haw" lyrics,
dressed up as a woman and wearing his Mom's vintage hats, or wearing his Dad's
baseball uniform and 'hitting laughs out of the park', family, friends and Salem
members likely will remember Don's memorable moments in family skits that
were performed to commemorate his parents' milestone birthdays and
anniversaries.
Those closest to Don will miss his never-ending smile, kind nature, group text
limericks, and dad/brother jokes. No matter what time of day or night it was, he
greeted everyone with, "Good Morning!" No one had a sense of humor like Don,
who went through life laughing and bringing laughter and joy to everyone around
him. While dealing with Don's sudden death has been difficult, his family is
comforted by knowing his generous spirit will live on as an organ donor, helping
more people to be able to live life to the fullest.
Don is preceded in death by his parents, Victor and Darlene Zweygardt. He will
be deeply missed by those who survive him, including his loving girlfriend, Kelly
Kots; his children, Max (Morgan) Zweygardt of Pittsburgh, PA; Dylan Zweygardt
of Rapid City, SD; and Chandler Zweygardt of Yankton, SD; his beloved
grandchildren Noah, Stoklie, Daven, Luke and Killian; sisters Susan Pierce (Jerry)
of El Cajon, CA; and Cathy Gleason (Dan) of Anchorage, Alaska; aunts, uncles,
nephews, niece-in-laws, cousins, and many friends and co-workers.
Flowers may be sent to the Knodel Funeral Home at 202 S. Benton St., St.
Francis, KS, 67756; memorial donations can also be sent to the funeral home, or be
given to the family at Don's funeral or during their stay in St. Francis.

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Don's final wishes included placing the following limerick on his headstone at the
Salem Lutheran Church Cemetery:

There Once Was A Zweygardt Named Don
Who Grew Up Here But Now Is Gone.
He Was Blessed at Birth
With A Great Family On Earth
And May God Bless You…In Life And Beyond.