Warren Leo Friessen, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, peacefully passed away on Tuesday, April 2, 2024.

Warren was born on August 23,1930 to William and Elsie (Ehde) Friessen in Larchwood, Iowa.  The family moved to western Sioux Falls when Warren was 6 months old to a farm located at the current location of Roosevelt High School.  Warren attended country school located on the southeast corner of their farm, which is now 41st and Valley View.  As early as Warren could remember, he was expected to do his share to help support the family farm to include caring for cattle, hogs, and chickens, gathering eggs, and pulling weeds.  The value of hard work was instilled in him by both parents at an early age. In his younger years his hobbies included fishing in Skunk Creek, hunting, dancing, bowling, roller skating and cards.

In 1953, Warren won his first South Dakota State single row corn picking contest and would go on to win five more state titles between 1953 and 1961.  In 1958 and 1961 he won the National Title and was presented the award by Presidents Eisenhower and Kennedy, respectively.  On his 13th competition on October 13, 1958 he won his first National Title – from then on 13 was his lucky number.

On February 19,1955 at St. Joseph Cathedral, he married his true love Hilda Lorraine Hooshagen.  They met in 4-H and roller skating at Wall Lake.  After 10 years of courting, they would go on to share 62 years of marriage.  They built their first home on Marion Road and 38th Street in 1955.

Ever the entrepreneur, he started his first businesses in his 20s by founding Dakota Heavy Haul and Warren Friessen Excavating before incorporating Friessen Construction Co., Inc. in August 1968.  Throughout the late 1940s and 1950s he hauled cattle, milk, and manure.  In 1958, he started digging basements in Penny Addition off Marion Road in west Sioux Falls.

He was a workaholic and had high expectations of his employees, some might say tough to please.  His determination and work ethic were on display during the Sioux Falls flood of 1969.  Many thought it couldn't be done, but he worked nonstop for 3 days to save the city waste water treatment plant and John Morrell by reenforcing the failing levees.  His efforts garnered inclusion in the October 1969 issue of National Geographic.  In addition to his construction company, he always loved farming and cattle.  At one point in the 1970s he had over 700 head of cattle as a "hobby".  The farm life was in his blood.

By the 1970s, a Sunday afternoon family drive around town after church was full of stories and vivid details shared about past and present projects. Some of the more complex projects were: US Bank Downtown building in the 1960s, McKennan Hospital Addition in the 1970s, Marion Road expansion in 1987, and 26th  Street & I-29 in 1996.

In the 1990s, he started developing 90 acres of his farmland on the north side of 26th Street for single family homes (Prairie Highlands and Prairie Pointe).  All the streets were named for South Dakota wildflowers and his slogan was a free tree with every lot!  Warren, like his brother Jim, loved trees and the beauty they added to any property.   In 1993, he built his dream home on Stoney Pointe Court overlooking Dunham Park where he had farmed and pastured his cattle since the 1970s.  He planted many trees on his large lot and enjoyed watching them grow during the 30 years he lived there.

Shortly after building his dream home, he suffered a heart attack and had double bypass surgery.  Warren slowed way down to appreciate his second lease on life.  He and Hilda started traveling over the winter months with family and friends. Warren said his greatest joy was watching his grandchildren and great granddaughters grow up. You'd see him at every school concert or sporting event for his four grandkids.

His proudest project was Lake Lorraine in Sioux Falls, taking 20 years to acquire the 130-acres and digging the 30-acres spring fed lake.  It went through three iterations of possible designs and concepts – dreaming of what it should and could be. Even deciding on the name took years, but they finally settled on his wife's middle name.  In 2014, with plans set, construction started on roads and buildings. He enjoyed watching the development grow parcel by parcel and even counting cars on the opening weekend of the national retail shops in October 2017.

Warren was an excellent loader operator; it was his favorite piece of equipment to run. As recently as April 2023, he was at the controls of his Volvo L70 loader.  He just loved operating equipment.

He paired his hard work ethic with his devout faith into building many Catholic projects throughout Sioux Falls.  Warren and Hilda were proud to be charter members of Christ the King and St. Michael Church in Sioux Falls.  He served on the building committee and contributed to the many construction decisions when St. Michael Church was built in 1981 and the school addition begun in 1995.  Warren was a key instigator and fund raiser for the bronze statue of Msgr. John McEneaney at the entrance of the O'Gorman High School football field.

Warren served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1951-1952.  He was a member of the Wayne Township Volunteer Fire Department, a board member for First National Bank, and a life member of the Sertoma Club of Sioux Falls.

During the last five years of their marriage, Hilda was unable to do much for herself, so she taught Warren from her recliner all the household duties of cooking, baking, and laundry.  He took the best care of her, whether in their home or spending all day in rehab or the hospital.  After her passing in 2017, the daughters started a "Dessert Saturday" tradition where they'd play Five Crowns and enjoy good food and conversation for hours which he looked forward to each week.

Born and raised in Sioux Falls for 93 years, Warren could talk to anyone in South Dakota and find a connection.  Anyone who knew him was impressed by his incredible memory.

When asked what his greatest accomplishments were, he would highlight the individuals he had influenced to reconcile with their families or come back to their Catholic faith.  Since Hilda's passing, St. Michael Church and St. Michael Cemetery became two of his favorite places for reflection and prayer.  He died peacefully at home while watching one of his favorite TV shows "The Price Is Right".

He was preceded in death by his loving wife, Hilda, his parents Bill and Elsie, and siblings Donald Friessen, James Friessen, and Donna Schwanke-Cooper.  He is survived by his sister Dolores Gibbs, two daughters Cindy Monnin (Tom), Patty Vognild (Brian), four grandchildren Kirby Monnin (Jamie), Katie Loomis (Corey), Allison Hubers (Luke), and Angela Vognild, 5 great–grand daughters (Peyton, Cora, Ruby, and Ellie Monnin, Riley Loomis) and great-grandson baby Loomis.

The family will be present from 5:00 to 6:30pm Thursday, April 11, with a prayer service beginning at 6:30 pm. at St. Michael Catholic Church, 1600 S. Marion Road, Sioux Falls, SD 57106. The funeral mass will be held 11:00am Friday, April 12, 2024, at St. Michael Parish with lunch and burial afterward.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests memorials made to St. Michael Elementary School.