John Wells, Mount Vernon

John Wells, 51, Mount Vernon, died Saturday, Nov. 10, 2012, at Hans P. Peterson Memorial Hospital, Philip.

He was born on May 7, 1961.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday at First Reformed Church, Mitchell. Burial will be in Aurora Reformed Cemetery, Aurora Center.

Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at the church with a 7 p.m. prayer service.

Arrangements are under the direction of Bittner Funeral Chapel, Mitchell.

John Dale Wells was born to Alfred (Ike) and Joyce (Shirley) Wells in Santa Ana, Calif.

He lived in Kimball, then White Lake, where he grew up and attended schools.

In 1979, he graduated from White Lake High School with honors, and in 1981, graduated from Mitchell Vocational Technical School with an agricultural degree.

He farmed at Winfred and Fedora and then was employed at the Owens and West Pheasant Farm at White Lake.

On Nov. 30, 1985, he married Debra Wolbrink at First Reformed Church, Mitchell.

He moved to Mitchell, where he was employed at UBC building pole barns for 10 years, Lakeview Veterinary Clinic for 10 years, the Mitchell Farmers Elevator and then the Blue Stem family farm in Mount Vernon.

In 1996, he moved to Mount Vernon to farm. He was currently employed with the Davison County Highway Department and for many years he worked at the Mitchell Livestock Auction.

He loved his family and had a passion for farming and hunting. He played church league softball, bowled and enjoyed basketball and fishing.

He had been a member of First Reformed Church in Mitchell and attended United Methodist Church in Mount Vernon.

He is survived by his wife, Deb; three children: Adam Wells and fiancé Amanda, Sioux Falls; Clayton Wells, Tea; and Courtney Wells, Mount Vernon; one grandson, Elijah Bradley Wells, Sioux Falls; his father and stepmother, Ike and Eva Lou Wells, White Lake; three brothers: Dave Wells and wife Karla, Loveland, Colo.; Doug Wells and friend Teena, Ranier, Wash.; and Frank Wells and friend Pam, Mitchell; one sister, Teresa Deurmier and husband Doug, Mitchell; brothers- and sisters- in-law: Gary Wolbrink and wife Connie, Sioux Falls; Steve Wolbrink and wife Diana, Mitchell; Loretta Winthers, Mitchell, Jim Miller, Harpers Ferry, W.Va,; and numerous nieces, nephews and friends.

He was preceded in death by his mother, Joyce Wells; one brother, Mike Wells; a niece, Amy Wells; his father- and mother-in-law, Gerrit and Agnes (Nydam) Wolbrink; a brother-in-law, Roger Wolbrink; a sister-in-law Arlene Plooster and her husband Norman; a sister-in-law, Pat Miller; and uncles: George Wells and John Wells and wife Dakota.

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