Dennis Kuehne, age 71, of Valley City, ND, died Wednesday, September 20th at Sanford Health, Fargo, ND.  A funeral service will be held at 11:00 AM Monday, September 25th at Trinity Lutheran Church in Valley City.  Visitation will be held one hour before the service at the Church on Monday morning.  Interment will be on Tuesday, September 26th at 1:00 PM in Immanuel Cemetery, Eagle Bend, MN.  An online guestbook and livestream of Dennis’ service will be available at www.lerudmathias.com.  Funeral arrangements by the Lerud Mathias Funeral Home of Valley City.

Dennis William Kuehne, 71, born on October 15, 1951, in Little Falls, MN, he was the cherished son of Norbert Kuehne and Helen Kuehne nee Mielke.  Dennis’s educational journey began in a one-room schoolhouse near their family farm in Long Prairie, MN, where he laid the foundation for his love of learning. He went on to graduate from Clarissa High School. He continued his educational journey, earning an Associates degree from the University of Crookston. His dedication to learning led him to North Dakota State University later in life, where he came tantalizingly close to obtaining his Bachelor’s Degree in Animal Science, just 6 credits shy.  On December 1, 1973, Dennis married the love of his life, Kleda Rae Nelson. Together, they lovingly raised four children: Joy (Aaron) Zaharia, Kyle Kuehne, Cody (Ali) Kuehne, and Shayne (Kaitlyn) Kuehne. His heart swelled with pride as the grandfather of five grandchildren: Kassidy (Tyler), Joylyssa, Dreydyn, Kasyn, and Falyn, and his joy was complete with the arrival of a great-grandchild, Oaklynn.  Dennis’s professional journey began as a herdsman for Willie Fredlund in Canby, MN, before he and his family seized the opportunity to purchase their own dairy farm near Browerville, MN in 1977. In June 1991, the Kuehne family embarked on a new adventure, relocating to Valley City, ND. This move strategically positioned Dennis for his impactful work with MN Select Sires where he earned numerous awards.   Beyond his career, Dennis was an avid supporter of the Minnesota Twins, Minnesota Vikings, and the NDSU Bison, though he preferred to cheer for them from the comfort of his living room, convinced the referees could hear him better through the TV. He found joy in golf, reading, collecting farm toys (especially John Deere), and even had a secret passion for coin collecting. His infectious sense of humor brightened countless lives. He generously devoted his time to coaching and teaching his children’s 4-H softball and dairy judging teams, leaving a lasting impression on their formative years.

Dennis is survived by his children and grandchildren, his sister, Nancy (Wilfred) Pieper, sister-in-law, Keri (Darrell) Krabbenhoft, brother-in-law, Kurt (Barbara) Nelson, three nieces, two nephews.

Dennis was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Kleda Rae Kuehne, his parents, Norbert and Helen Kuehne, his in-laws, Robert and Kathryn Nelson, and his niece, Alicia Pieper.

You could take the man off the farm, but you couldn’t take the farm out of the man. Dennis’s connection to the land and the values it instilled in him remained a steadfast part of his life.

Dennis Kuehne will forever be remembered for his unwavering dedication to his family, his passion for his work, his love for sports and laughter including picking on people, and the indelible legacy of love and cherished memories he leaves behind.