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In memory of

John Richard Odney

Sioux Falls, SD

November 13, 1943 - October 21, 2023

Nov 13, 1943 - Oct 21, 2023

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John Odney, longtime Washington Senior High School educator and Hall of Fame basketball player and coach in Sioux Falls, SD, passed away Friday, October 21, 2022, at Sanford USD Medical Center. He was 78.

Visitation with the family present will be from 4 to 7 pm on Friday, October 28, 2022, at the Miller Funeral Home Chapel, 507 South Main Avenue. A memorial service will be held at 11 am on Saturday, October 29, 2022, at First Lutheran Church.

In lieu of flowers, John’s family requests that memorials be directed to the John Odney Scholarship Fund for the benefit of Washington High School Athletics, the Ole and Marie Odney Endowed Scholarship at Augustana University, or First Lutheran Church.

John was born on November 13, 1943, in Mayville, ND, to Olaf “Ole” and A. Marie (Bergsaker) Odney. His family moved to Sioux Falls when he was five years old. He attended Sioux Falls public schools, and graduated from Washington High School in 1961. Following high school, he attended Augustana College and graduated in 1965. John started his career, as a teacher and coach, with Sioux Falls public schools in 1968. He was the camp director at Camp Tepeetonka, a YMCA summer camp, from 1970 to 1978.

John’s entire life was lived in service to others. He was passionate about teaching and coaching basketball. John was devoted to helping his students and players achieve success and become the best people they could be. He belonged to First Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls for most of his life and faithfully served in a number of ways. John was generous with his time and wisdom. When he talked with you, he made you feel like you were the only person in the room. He was kind, humble, and quick to laugh, even as he struggled with his own health over the past year.

Grateful for having shared his life are his twin sister, Gretchen Hofland and her husband Rod, Apple Valley, MN; nieces and nephews; many grand nieces and nephews; John’s many dear friends in Sioux Falls who were truly extended family. He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Keith Odney, and sister-in-law Virginia Odney.

To view the beautiful video of Johns life go to Millerfh.com find John Odney