Bernard Edward Duffy

Mass of Christian Burial for Bernard Edward Duffy will be held Saturday at 11:00 AM, April 27, 2024, at St. Thomas More Catholic Church in Brookings, SD. Visitation will begin at 9:30 AM until service time. Celebrant will be Father Thomas Fitzpatrick. Bernard, age 95 of Brookings, formerly of Oldham and Lake Preston passed away, Wednesday, April 24, 2024, was surrounded by his loved ones at The Neighborhoods at Brookview in Brookings, SD. Inurnment will be 10:00 AM Monday April 29, 2024, at St. Catherines Cemetery in Oldham, SD. Arrangements have been entrusted to Johnson-Henry/Crawford Osthus Funeral Home of Arlington.

Urnbearers will be Ryan Duffy, Tom Nielsen, Travis Duffy, Jenna Nielsen, John Duffy, Nicole Keating, Staci Carlson.

Bernard Edward Duffy was born on December 12, 1928, to Thomas and Monica (Connor) Duffy of rural Oldham, South Dakota. Bernard graduated from Oldham High School in 1947. After one year at South Dakota State University, Bernard joined his father on the family farm outside of Oldham.

On October 18, 1952, Bernard married Marlene Dahlen at St. Catherine’s Catholic Church in Oldham. The couple was blessed with four children and raised their family on the farm.

Over the years, Bernard farmed with his dad, his brother Jim, and later with two of his sons.  He enjoyed being a farmer, especially feeding cattle and attending livestock auctions to buy feedlot replacements or breeding stock.

In 1994, Bernard semi-retired from farming and the couple moved to Lake Preston, South Dakota, where they lived until 2020 when they relocated to Brookings. Throughout the years, Bernard served his community in many capacities including as a Board Member for the CFA and FHA. He also worked with a group to make the long-awaited Oldham gymnasium a reality.  In Lake Preston, he always looked forward to coffee time at Boomers and the Lake Preston Café.

Bernard was an active member of St. Catherine's Catholic Church in Oldham, and St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church in DeSmet, where he served on many church boards. In Brookings, Marlene and Bernard were members of St. Thomas More.  He was a longtime member of the Knights of Columbus.

Bernard loved sports. In his younger years, he played basketball and was on the 1950 State Independent Championship Team.  He also enjoyed bowling and playing baseball. He was a lifelong fan of the SDSU basketball teams and the Minnesota Vikings.

Bernard will be deeply missed by his wife, Marlene Duffy, three sons, Michael (Cheryl) Duffy, Madison, Gregory (Nila) Duffy, Oldham, David (Karen) Duffy, Oldham, and one daughter, Janelle Nielsen, Madison, seven grandchildren, Ryan (Elizabeth) Duffy, Sioux Falls, Tom (Erin) Nielsen, Madison, Travis Duffy, Brandon, Jenna Nielsen, Minneapolis, John (Kim) Duffy, Brandon, Nicole (Trevor) Keating, Arlington, and Staci (Andrew) Carlson, Brookings, 13 great-grandchildren, one sister, Sarah Wetrich, Sioux Falls, several nieces, nephews, cousins and brother-in law Michael (Janet) Dahen, Iowa.

He is preceded in death by a grandson, Allan Duffy, son-in-law, Jim Nielsen, parents, Thomas & Monica Duffy, one sister, Mary and husband Vane Miller, one brother, James and wife, Joan Duffy, brother-in-law, Donald Wetrich, in-laws, Beverly and Wayne Page and DeLayne and Larry Bickett.

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