Deacon Mike Huntington

Deacon Mike (Sumner Dana Jr.) Huntington, 78, of Marion, Iowa, formerly of Colman, SD, passed away on Tuesday, April 29, 2025, at the Hiawatha Care Center in Hiawatha, Iowa. A Memorial Mass directed by the family will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 10, 2025, at St. Michael's Catholic Church in Sioux Falls. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service. Inurnment will take place at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Dell Rapids.

Mike was born on July 9, 1946, in Hanover, New Hampshire, to Sumner Dana Sr. and Bernice Bertha (Bean) Huntington.

A devoted Catholic, Mike dedicated his life to spreading the love and mercy of God.  Mike’s pride was helping the youth develop their faith, helping couples unite in the sacrament of marriage, and welcoming newborns to the Catholic community through the sacrament of baptism. 

After graduating from Dakota Wesleyan University in Mitchell, South Dakota, he began his teaching career at St. Mary’s Catholic School in Dell Rapids, South Dakota, where he met his wife, Donna (Zeig). They married on August 1, 1975, in Huntimer, South Dakota.

A significant portion of Mike’s career was spent at St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Sioux Falls, where he served as an elementary teacher and director of catechism. He was ordained as a permanent deacon on January 26, 1985, and continued his service at St. Joseph’s Cathedral. In 1993, he earned a Master’s in Pastoral Ministries from St. Mary’s University in Winona, Minnesota.

In 1998, Mike and Donna were asked to reside in the St. Peter’s rectory in Colman, South Dakota, where he served for 10 years.  Alongside his role as a deacon, he began teaching theology at the newly consolidated O’Gorman Middle School. Mike retired from O’Gorman Catholic Schools in 2012. In July 2022, he and Donna relocated to Marion, Iowa, to be closer to family.

Although God was at the center of Mike’s life, he was also a devoted husband to Donna until his death. He was a proud father to Chad, always guiding him through example and wisdom. Mike’s family grew in 2001 when he gained a daughter-in-law, Jill. His joy and love for family expanded with the birth of his granddaughters, Makenna in 2009 and Maleah in 2013.

Mike was an avid reader and enjoyed the outdoors. His favorite outdoor activity was swimming, but he also liked hiking and canoeing. He enjoyed vacations to Grand Junction, Colorado, where they spent the initial years of their marriage, including Chad’s birth. The family also took several trips to New Hampshire to visit Mike’s relatives and to Duluth, Minnesota, to enjoy the beauty of Lake Superior.

Mike is survived by his wife, Donna; his son, Chad (Jill) Huntington; his grandchildren, Makenna and Maleah Huntington; and his sister, Cindy Booth. He was preceded in death by his parents.

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