Obituary of Dean A. Thomsen

THOMSEN DEAN A.

Dean A. Thomsen, 77, passed away unexpectedly at his residence in Phoenix, AZ, on October 16, 2024.  A long-time resident of Yankton, SD, Dean had recently moved to Arizona to enjoy the sun and year-round golfing.  Visitations will be 5:00 to 7:00 pm, Friday, October 25, 2024, at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home & Onsite Crematory, Yankton, SD.  A Celebration of Life will be 4:00 pm to 7:00 pm, Saturday, October 26, 2024, at the Yankton Elks Lodge, Yankton, SD.  A private family committal service will be at the South Dakota Veterans Cemetery in Sioux Falls at a later date.  Online condolences may be sent at: www.opsahl-kostelfuneralhome.com.

Dean was born on January 4, 1947, in Yankton, SD, to Virgil and Alice (Swensen) Thomsen.  His elementary years were at rural schools in the Yankton and Tabor, SD, area.  He completed his middle and high school education in Yankton, graduating in 1965.  In August 1967 Dean was drafted into the U.S. Army.  Being fortunate enough to not have to go to Vietnam, he served overseas in Korea during the time of seizure of the USS Pueblo.  As a non-officer, Dean was the leading instructor in the headquarter offices of the Army CBR School and helped compile that training manual.  Dean attained the rank of SP5 and was honorably discharged in 1969. Outside of the immense pride Dean had in his two children, his military career was the next proudest moment of his life.

Dean married Donna Ellis on February 15, 1968, in Yankton.  In October of that year, Dean and Donna welcomed their daughter, Rochelle “Shelly” Thomsen.  Dean was in Korea at the time of Shelly’s birth, and in March of 1969, he returned to Yankton after being honorably discharged.  He worked at Walbaums in Yankton until he passed the civil service test and obtained a job with the United States Postal Service in Mitchell, SD.  While residing in Mitchell, Dean and Donna purchased their first home and their son Kenneth “Ken” Thomsen was born in August 1971. 

The following year, Dean enrolled at Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell and obtained a degree in secondary education. He continued to work at the post office while attending college.  Upon his graduation in 1976, he began his teaching career as an English instructor at Tyndall Tabor High School in Tyndall, SD.  During the summer months, he was a master concrete finisher.  He took pride in that work, and everyone knew the job they hired him for would be perfect.  Dean also taught Ken how to do some of that work. 

After being sought out by Security State Bank in Tyndall, Dean left Tyndall Tabor High School in 1981 and began his banking career.  In 1988 Dean took a loan officer position with First Dakota National Bank in Yankton.  He was eventually promoted to Vice President and the branch manager of First Dakota’s north location in front of the Yankton Mall.  Dean retired from First Dakota in 2006 and realizing he had too much time on his hands, he obtained his real estate license and became a broker associate for Century 21 in Yankton for six years.  While working in Yankton, Dean was a member of the Jaycees, the Chamber of Commerce, the Elks, and Trinity Lutheran Church.  Dean was also a volunteer for the Junior Achievement program in Yankton.  He assisted in implementing the Junior Achievement Applied Economics Program and was a class consultant one day a week throughout the first semester of its implementation. 

Dean enjoyed golfing (and was instrumental in teaching his children and enjoyed golfing with them for years), wintering in Arizona before purchasing a home in Phoenix in August 2023, and spending time with his friends and family.  He especially loved his two grandchildren, Dillon and Allison Schenkel.  He was very proud of their accomplishments, as well as those of his children. 

Dean is survived by his two children Shelly Schenkel (Mark Nelson), Sioux Falls SD; and Ken Thomsen, Denver, CO.  His two grandchildren, Dillon Schenkel (Kristin Cleverdon-Schenkel), Meridian, ID; and Allie Schenkel, Sioux Falls; his brothers, Dennis Thomsen (Amy Thomsen), Boise, ID; Dale Thomsen (Skye Thomsen), DeSmet, SD; and his sister, Judy Olson (Brad Olson), Montevideo, MN; and several nieces and nephews.  He is preceded in death by his parents, Virgil Thomsen (1996) and Alice Thomsen (2019).