Funeral services for Neil Birkeland, 78, of Dupree were held Friday, April 14, 2023, at the Dupree School Gym. Burial was at the Dupree Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge.
Neil passed away Saturday, April 8, 2023, at his home.
Neil Dean Birkeland was born December 13, 1944, to Leonard O. and Jackie (Jeffries) Birkeland at Dupree. Jess Knight needed a boxing ring, so Neil was part of building a sturdy boxing ring that is still used today in Eagle Butte. Neil was asked by the In The Woods family (Burton and Stacie) to build Dupree’s first pow-wow arena; some posts still stand today. From 1965-1968, Neil worked with his cousin, John Birkeland, for Marshall Lund Construction in the Dakotas. Construction Foreman John always said that “Neil was the best lineman on the job.”
Neil’s twin sister, Nancy Fields, was his best Dupree High School academic supporter. Neil was highly recognized for his exceptional basketball and football skills. He was an all-star athlete at Dupree High School graduating in 1963. When Neil was in middle school, he had eyes for a young country girl attending Soliday Country School. His love never diminished for her, and on April 1, 1972, Neil married Vicki Williams Parker Dahl at the United Church of Christ in Dupree
December 13, 1944 – April 8, 2023
with John Birkeland, Bart Birkeland, Vivian Thomas, and Cathy Birkeland Buchmaster as their honor attendants.
Neil’s dreams and possibilities were to have several children, build up the Birkeland Ranch, raise top-notch quality Angus cattle, and score a winning hand of cards. As “Lucky Boy” would have it, all his hopes became a reality. He raised five children and watched them flourish. Neil restored the 1926 hip-roofed red barn that was built by his grandfather (Ole E.) and father (Leonard) through the greatest sweat and labor. Neil added new barns to the ranch. He championed the nack of “AI” ing, welded to perfection, and welded whatever neighbors needed as well as for his own ranch. He built pens that he said “will last for 100 years.”
Neil was honored by being selected as the 2013 American Maine-Anjou Commercial Producer of the Year at the National Western Livestock Show in Denver, CO on January 17, 2014.
Keeping Neil in their fondest memories are his wife, Vicki Birkeland; two sons, Jace (Kristi) Birkeland and Cliff (Charlene) Moudy; four daughters: Darci (Brian) Harper, Kari Birkeland, Kelli (Brad) Leonard, and Jacki (Reggie) Kennedy; grandchildren: Dace (Jodi), Jade (Katy), Jess and Drew Harper, Reece Leonard, Sam, Tristan, and Tel Kennedy, Sidni Ferguson, Tee, Cruz, and Fletcher Birkeland, Dakota Moudy, Shayna (Marcus) Richmond, and Casey (Emily) Moudy; great-grandchildren: Maci, Dillon, Denton Harper, Levi and Liah Harper, Ellie and Nate Moudy, Koree and Wynter White Wolf and Rhett Richmond, Dawson and Cooper Moudy; sister Nancy (Billy) Fields; brother Bart (Karen) Birkeland; and numerous nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by parents Leonard and Jackie Birkeland;brother Bruce Birkeland; sister-in-law Leota (Starr) Birkeland; sister Betty Lawrence; mother-in-law Evelyn French Parker; father-in-law Ramon “Sharky” Williams, and step-fatherin-law Frank Parker.
(Vicki Birkeland’s address is PO Box 337, Dupree, SD 57623.)