Laine C. Warkenthien, 62, of Miller, passed away unexpectedly on Monday, September 7, 2026, at the Avera Hand County Memorial Hospital in Miller.
Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m., Monday, September 14, 2026, at the Miller Community Center with Rev. Allison Galbreath officiating. Burial will be at Collins Cemetery in Willow Lake, SD. Visitation will begin at 5:00 p.m., Sunday, September 13, 2026, followed by a 7 p.m. prayer service, all at the Miller Community Center.
Laine was born on Christmas Eve, December 24, 1963, to Elwood and Barbara (Pommer) Warkenthien of Willow Lake, South Dakota. He was the baby of three children—a role he took very seriously throughout his life. Just ask his sister, Laurie.
He was baptized at the Willow Lake Presbyterian Church and graduated from Willow Lake High School in 1982. Over the years, Laine called several South Dakota communities home, spending 22 years in Wessington Springs before eventually settling in Miller, where he would spend the final years of his life and become deeply involved in the community he loved.
On September 3, 1999, Laine married Darla Willman, and with their marriage came the beautiful blending of two families and six children: Andy, Rebecca, Ashley, Alex, Adam, and Eric.
Of all the roles Laine held throughout his life, being a father was one he took especially seriously—and one he was exceptionally good at. His children never had to wonder whether their dad was in their corner. He gave them his time, his energy, his advice, his support, and, above all, his unconditional love. Family wasn't simply important to Laine; it was the center of his life.
And then came a title that somehow meant just as much: Grandpa.
Laine and Darla embraced being grandparents with their whole hearts. Together, they covered countless miles on the road traveling to games, concerts, activities, celebrations, and everything in between. If one of their grandchildren was participating, chances were Grandpa and Grandma were somewhere in the stands. They didn't just ask how things went—they were there to see it for themselves.
Nine grandchildren were blessed to call him Grandpa: Micah, Taylor, Rylan, Makenzie, Jalyn, Jocelyn, Evan, Aiden, Brody, and Harper. Laine loved each of them immensely, and they knew it. More importantly, they loved their grandpa just as fiercely in return. The memories he made with them, the lessons he taught them, and the love he gave them will remain part of who they are for the rest of their lives.
When Laine and Darla weren't on the road chasing grandchildren, Laine could often be found at work or giving his time to the Miller community. He took tremendous pride in his career with Quoin Financial. But for Laine, work was never simply about a job. The people he met along the way— coworkers, customers, and community members—often became much more than that. They became friends, and many became family.
Laine believed in giving back to the community that had given so much to him. He was an active member of the Miller Lions Club and On Hand Development Corporation, generously giving his time and talents to help make Miller a better place.
He also loved sports. Whether he was cheering from the stands at one of his grandchildren's events, following his beloved Los Angeles Dodgers, or attending SDSU Jackrabbits games with Darla, sports brought Laine a great deal of joy. One particularly special memory was finally getting to see his Dodgers play in person in Minneapolis—a memory that became even more meaningful in the final chapter of his life.
Laine is survived by his wife, Darla; his six children: Andy (Ashley) Van Den Oever of Huron, SD, Rebecca (Jared) Grassel of Woonsocket SD, Ashley (Jonathan) Moe of Atlantic, IA, Alex (Aaron Earl) Warkenthien of Sioux Falls,SD, Adam Van Den Oever Spirit Lake IA, and Eric (Shelby) Warkenthien of Brookings, SD; his nine grandchildren, Micah, Taylor, Rylan (Makenzie), Jalyn, Jocelyn, Evan, Aiden, Brody, and Harper; his mother, Barbara Warkenthien of Willow Lake, SD; his sister, Laurie Nelson of Sioux Falls, SD; sister-in-law, Karla (Kurt) Hall, Faulkton, SD; brothers-in- law, Rod Willman, Rapid City, SD and Randy (Linda) Willman, Wessington Springs, SD; special friend, Tim Holzwarth, Mitchell, SD; along with many cousins, nieces, nephews, extended family members, coworkers, and countless friends who were fortunate enough to know and love him.
He was preceded in death by his father, Elwood Warkenthien; his brother, Loren Warkenthien; and his in-laws, Robert and Karen Willman.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to On Hand Development Corporation, 526 N. Broadway, Miller, SD 57362 or the Miller Lions Club, in honor of Laine’s commitment to the community he loved.
Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Laine’s arrangements. Visit www.luceluzereck.com