Merle D. Ihnen, 74, of Tulare, SD, died Saturday, December 19, 2009 in Aberdeen, SD. His funeral will be Wednesday, December 23, 2009 at 10:30 a.m. at the Tulare United Church in Tulare, SD. Pastors Lorah Houser-Jankord and Ken Castner will officiate. After a time for fellowship and lunch the burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery in Redfield. Visitation will be Tuesday from 1-8:00 p.m. with the family present from 6-8:00 p.m. and a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at Thelen Funeral Home in Redfield. www.thelenfuneralhome.com

Merle was born October 12, 1935 in Rising City, NE to Henry and Arlene (Dunning) Ihnen. When he was a young man, his family moved to a farm near Chariton, IA. In 1954, Merle took a vacation to South Dakota, with fifty dollars in his pocket. He met Mary Lou Warfield and never left. Merle and Mary were married June 10, 1956 in Tulare. Merle was a farmer and a truck driver, and he enjoyed driving his Volvo Semi-truck.

Merle enjoyed talking and eating at truck stops and anywhere his travels took him. He was doing what he loved on Saturday, driving his truck, stopped for a meal and died sitting in his truck. He loved his dog "Ozzie", but most of all his family and grandchildren.

Merle is survived by his wife Mary Lou of Tulare; his son Ken (Penny) Ihnen of Tulare; his daughters: Barbara (Jon) Carlson of Lincoln, NE; and Colene Hageman of Denver, CO. He is also survived by five grandchildren: Nathan, Alissa, Nick, Josh and Grace and five siblings: Janice (Bill) Welch of Chariton, IA; Bill (Shirley) Ihnen of Indianola, IA; Sharon Arnold of Squires, MO; Sandi Ihnen of Mt. Moriah, MO and Dennis Ihnen of Des Moines, IA and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents.