Duane A. Riedel

Duane A. Riedel, 94, of Aberdeen, passed away peacefully, surrounded by his family, on Saturday, December 14, 2019. 

His funeral service, with Masonic Rites, will be 3:30 p.m., Friday, December 20, 2019, at First United Methodist Church, 502 South Lincoln St, Aberdeen, with Pastor John Hisel officiating.

Private family burial, with military rites, will take place on Saturday, December 21st, at Riverside Cemetery in Aberdeen.

Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary & Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen is in charge of arrangements.

Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday.  No visitation will take place at the mortuary. 

Family and friends may sign Duane’s online guestbook and also view his service via the live stream service link at www.schriversmemorial.com.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to either:  Pheasants Forever, Yelduz Shrine Roadrunners, or the Disabled American Veterans.

Duane was born on August 30, 1925, to George and Florence (Rose) Riedel.

He lived and worked in Aberdeen his entire life with the exception of the 2 ½ years he honorably and faithfully served his country as a United States Navy Seabee in the South Pacific during World War II and when he attended Denver University, where he met his wife of 62 years, Isabel (Stout). 

Duane started employment in Aberdeen at Candy Service Company in July 1948.  Along with his business partner, Jim Gabriel, the company expanded to include six territories between 1955 –1982, adding one warehouse at a time (Eureka, Pierre, Milbank, Watertown, Mitchell, Jamestown, and Bismarck) to become a true factor in the market.  In addition to the afore-mentioned eight warehouses, Duane also started C & C Vending Company to better serve these communities. 

Duane was extremely involved in his community, serving 22 years as a Dacotah Bank Director (formerly F & M Bank); 10 years on the Aberdeen School Board; 10 years as Brown County Republican Chair; eight years on the South Dakota Republican State Committee; 14 years as the South Dakota Association Tobacco & Candy Distributors Executive Director; 10 years on St. Luke’s Hospital Board of Directors; 10 years as the Director of the Aberdeen Development Board; 17 years as the Director of the National Candy Wholesalers Association (including serving as National President); nine years sponsoring local group Youth Pheasant Hunts on his property; 11 years sponsoring local group Disabled American Veterans Pheasant Hunts on his property; and was also Past Master of Masonic Blue Lodge #211.  Duane felt his most rewarding endeavor though, was driving a van, transporting local children, into the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital in St. Paul, MN, when he served as a Yelduz Shrine Roadrunner.

Duane used his skills, talents, and incredible work ethic to serve not just his family, but his community, who gained from his proficiency in business and his determination to give back to his fellow man, community, and country.

Duane was preceded in death by his wife, Isabel; and his parents, George and Florence.

He is survived by his four children: Marilyn (Roger) Imberi and Barb (Al) Peterson, both of Aberdeen, Peggy (Mike) Toby of San Diego, CA and Richard (Keri) Riedel of Omaha, NE; 11 grandchildren; and 15 great-grandchildren.  It’s been said that a grandparent is a little bit parent, a little bit teacher, and a little bit best friend. Duane was all of these.

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