Ronald Joseph Feterl of Salem was born to Louis and Mary (Huls) Feterl on February 19, 1935, on a farm east of Salem. He grew up in the Salem area and attended St. Mary’s School. Ron served in the US Army from 1954 to 1956 in Korea. On August 21, 1956, he married Mary Alice Jenneman at St. Mary Church in Salem. They farmed in the Montrose area from 1956 to 1963, when he joined his brother Leon in a partnership at Feterl Mfg. Co. He was President of Feterl Mfg. when he retired in 1997.
Ron was a member of St. Mary Catholic Church in Salem, where he received all his sacraments — baptism, first confession, first communion, confirmation, and holy matrimony. He was a proud member of American Legion Post 140. He served on the planning and building committee for Colonial Manor of Salem and served as its president from its inception in 1967 until 1972. He served on the board of McCook Country Club and was a Charter Member President. Ron was a founding member of the Salem Community Foundation, served numerous terms on the St. Mary Parish Council, and volunteered at the food pantry. He also dedicated many hours to providing transportation for Salem community members traveling to out-of-town medical appointments.
In 2016, Ron and Mary moved to Trail Ridge Senior Living Community in Sioux Falls to be closer to family and joined St. Katharine Drexel Catholic Parish. They greatly missed the Salem community but remained in close contact with their many friends and family there. They grew to love their new home at Trail Ridge, making many friends and receiving the highest level of care from a loving staff who treated them like family.
Ron was an avid hunter and shared that passion with his son, sons-in-law, and grandsons on their land in Salem. He enjoyed trips to Branson with Mary, coffee with friends, and time with his family. He was the number one fan of all his children’s, grandchildren’s, and great-grandchildren’s activities. He was also an avid fan of the Minnesota Twins. And those who knew him well knew he was a hobby meteorologist at heart, closely following the weather and rainfall across the state.
Mary passed away on April 25, 2026 — just a few months short of their 70th wedding anniversary.
Ron passed away on Monday, September 7, 2026, at the age of 91 at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls. He now joins his beloved Mary in eternal life. Funeral mass will begin at 10:30 am on Friday, September 11, 2026 at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Salem. Visitation will be from 5-7 pm with a rosary at 6:45 and a prayer service at 7 pm on Thursday also at the church.
He is survived by his children Gayle (Ken) Tonsager of Hot Springs, Kevin (Jan) Feterl of Sioux Falls, and Rhonda (Ken) Koch of Sioux Falls; grandchildren Jennifer (Mark) Besich, Wayne (Kandi) Tonsager, Justin (Amy) Koch, Miranda (Jordan) Ochocki, Kyle (Kathi) Koch, and Brett (Amy) Feterl; 15 great-grandchildren; and sisters Alice Carruthers of Chester and Joan Matthaei of Salem; along with his army buddy of 72 years, Paul Rackers of Missouri.
He was preceded in death by his parents; brothers Leon and Richard; two infant children, Laurie and Craig; and one grandchild Michelle Tonsager.
The family extends their deepest gratitude to the staff of Trail Ridge for their ten years of loving care, as well as the doctors and nurses who cared for Ron and Mary throughout their lives, and the amazing staff of the Dougherty Hospice House.
