Dennis Epp

Dennis Epp, 98, of Freeman passed away on August 6th at Oakview Terrace in Freeman. A Memorial Service will be held on Monday, August 10th, at 11 am at Bethany Mennonite Church in Freeman.

In lieu of flowers, consider honoring Dennis’ dedication to the Freeman Prairie Arboretum. Please mail a check directly to the arboretum: Freeman Prairie Arboretum, P.O. Box 1000, Freeman, SD 57029 re: Dennis Epp Memorial.

Dennis Lee Epp died peacefully on August 6, 2026 at Oak View Terrace in Freeman, SD. Dennis was born on February 28,1928 in Mountain Lake, Minnesota, to Jacob Jay and Louise Kintzi Epp. He spent his childhood, was baptized, and graduated from high school there.

Dennis started his later education at St. Olaf College, but graduated from Bluffton College in Ohio, where he met a classmate: Dorothy “Dot” Salzman. Dennis and Dot were married on August 19, 1951. He graduated from Northwestern University Medical School in Chicago in 1954. He finished his medical education at Miller Hospital (St. Paul, MN) and then worked two years as a physician with the U.S. Public Health Service in Philadelphia, Mississippi.

Dennis moved with his young family to Freeman, South Dakota in 1957, where he joined Dr. Kaufman and Dr. Villa in medical practice to form the Freeman Clinic, which later became Rural Medical Clinics. He and Dot were active members at Bethany Mennonite Church, serving on committees and sponsoring the youth group. He was instrumental in developing the Bethany Food Pantry, spending many enjoyable afternoons working there.

Dennis served for 9 years on the local school board, presiding as president for several of those years. Together, he and Dot parented exchange students from Mexico, Tanzania, and Japan. Dennis and Dot and their four sons enjoyed hiking, backpacking, camping, and swimming. They spent happy summers at the family cabin (Lake Madison, SD).

Dennis loved gardening, fishing, and working at the local arboretum. He enjoyed his small home greenhouse. He was a do-it-yourself artist, crafting numerous sculptures, mosaics, and paintings that reflected the birds, animals, and rural scenes which he loved.

After he retired from medical practice in Freeman (1990), Dennis and Dot did volunteer medical work for ten years in various overseas locations such as Belize, Brazil, South Africa, Jamaica, and St. Lucia. They would travel for 3 to 6 months at a time. Later they volunteered at a free clinic in Mexico for 8 winters, while living in the border town of Pharr, Texas. They also worked for the SOOP (Service Opportunities for Older Persons) in Carlsbad, New Mexico. Dennis and Dot agreed that the retirement years of volunteering were the best years of their lives.

Dorothy (“Dot”) Epp died in 2013 after 62 years of a happy marriage. Dennis is survived by his two brothers: Eldon (Ellie) (Lexington, MA) and Lorin (Becky) (Mountain Lake, MN); four sons: David (Freeman, SD), Jim (Cheryl) (Gettysburg, PA), Steve (Nanci) (Minneapolis, MN), Jon (Lynette) (Black Hawk, SD). Grandchildren: Jacob (Nicole), Lucas (Winnie), Matthew (Cindy), Andrew, Lily, Hannah, Henry (Kelsey), Vinora (Bruno), Léne (Brooks). Great Grandchildren: Madilyn, Cooper, Wyatt, Theodore, Dorothy.