Marvin D. Sessions, 69, of Miller, S.D., died Monday, Sept. 14,
2009 at the Good Samaritan Society in Miller. Funeral services will
be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 19 at the St. Lawrence Community
Church with the Rev. Dave Belzer officiating. Visitation will be
Friday, Sept. 18 from 5-7 p.m. at Rembold Funeral Home in St.
Lawrence with a 7 p.m. prayer service.
Interment will be at G.A.R. Cemetery in Miller.
Marvin Duane Sessions was born April 30, 1940 in the old opera
house at the corner of Highways 14 and 45 in Miller, S.D., the
first son of James Cecil and Shirley Novella (Butts) Sessions. Three
more children followed, Edwin Leroy Sessions, Gary Roy Sessions and
Carolyn Jean (Sessions) Haenfler.
The family lived one mile east and one mile north of Miller until
1945 when Cecil purchased a farm two miles east and one mile north
of St. Lawrence. Marvin attended St. Lawrence Public School for
twelve years, graduating in 1958.
On September 6, 1958, schoolmates Clair Bonebright, Albert Vitters,
Donald Davis and Marvin enlisted in the U.S. Army at the S.D. State
Fair in Huron. They were all fine soldiers and questioned their
sanity many times during the nine weeks of basic training. One year
later to the day, Marv boarded a troop ship in Brooklyn Army
Terminal in New York for a nine-day trip to Germany. He was forever
grateful that he did not join the Navy. He was never as sick before
or after the Atlantic cruise.
In May of 1962, Marvin married Elsa Feigl in Germany. They were
blessed with three children, James Stefan, Marvin Alan and Michelle
Ann. He remained in Germany until 1964, returning to the U.S.
A most significant decision was made in 1965 to remain in the U.S.
Army, when he entered Officers Candidate School and was commissioned
in the infantry. He spent ten years overseas in Germany and two
tours overseas in Vietnam. He retired in 1978 as a major after 20
years in the Army. He spent the next twelve years as a traveling
salesman and ended his career working at SDSU and St. Thomas Moore
Catholic Church as a “sanitary technician.”
On June 7, 1985, Marvin married his high school sweetheart and best
friend, Beryle. His greatest love was Beryle. Highlights in his life
included graduation from St. Lawrence High School, 20 years in the
U.S. Army and attending Helicopter Flight School. His children and
grandchildren were his greatest joys. He had no regrets.
Marvin was a life member of the VFW, American Legion, Disabled
American Veterans, Vietnam Helicopter Pilot Association and Military
Officers Association of America. He attended the St. Lawrence
Community Church and was a member of First English Lutheran Church
in Aurora, S.D.
Marvin is survived by his wife, Beryle of Miller; three children,
James Stefan (Judy) Sessions of Yuma, Ariz., Marvin Alan (Shayla)
Sessions of Stuttgart, Germany, Michelle Ann Ernster of Cedar
Rapids, Iowa; four step-children, Susan (Ronnie) Engelhart of
Zeeland, N.D., Alan (Patti) Haberling of Rapid City, Mark (Kari)
Haberling of Faulkton, and Daniel (Jolynn) Haberling of Pierre; nine
grandchildren; ten step-grandchildren; six step-great-grandchildren;
two brothers, Edwin (Judy) Sessions of Ridgefield, Wash. and Gary (MaryLou)
Sessions of Rapid City; one sister, Carolyn (Duane) Haenfler of Hot
Springs; one uncle, Cecil Butts of Sioux City, Iowa; and many
friends. He was preceded in death by his grandparents, parents,
uncles and aunts.
Pallbearers will be Nicholas Sessions, Stephan Sessions, Brad Pitts,
Kyle Sessions, Will Ernster, Justin Toennies, Tyler Toennies, Marcus
Haberling, Mike Sorensen and Ron Engelhart.
