Maurice Newman, 88 of Yankton

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YANKTON — Maurice E. Newman, 88 of Yankton, passed away Sunday, December 2, 2018, at Avera Majestic Bluffs Hospice House in Yankton. 
Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, December 7, at the First United Methodist Church of Yankton with the Rev. Ron Johnson officiating. Burial will be in the Yankton Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 5 p.m. Thursday at the First United Methodist Church in Yankton with a Scripture Service at 7 p.m. Visitation will resume one hour prior to service time on Friday.  Pallbearers are his grandsons, Tim Bottum, Jason Swaney, Joe Swaney, Adam Wilkinson, Austin Wilkinson, Sam Gusso and Dustin Gusso. Honorary Pallbearers are his granddaughters,  Angela Rasmussen, Danette Luthi, Renae Prostrollo, Jessica Swaney and Shayna Gusso.
Maurice was born August 17, 1930, to Dave and Gladys (Curtis) Newman on his grandparents farm north of Wessington. He grew up on the farm near Burdette and attended country school through the eighth grade near Tulare. He met Joyce Engle at a basketball game in Feb of 1953, and they were married December 31 that same year. They farmed with his parents until moving to Ashton in 1955, where they started farming on their own. 
While at Ashton, Maurice was a member of the Ashton fire department and the city council. In 1960, they moved to Miranda and he operated the feed mill and served on the school board. In 1963, they moved to Tulare where he started working for the South Dakota Wheat Growers and began a long career in Agri-business. In 1976, he took a job with Farmland Industries as a Feed and Animal Health Specialist and moved to Castlewood. In 1986, he retired and took a job at the local Co-op in Yankton serving as their Sales Specialist. In 1992, he retired from Agriculture and began selling specialty items with Spartan Promotional. Maurice finally retired for good in December of 2017, at age 87.
Maurice was most proud of his family. He and Joyce had four daughters; twelve grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren. Maurice was an avid sports fan. He spent many years playing softball and coaching his daughters’ teams. He spent much of his time at local softball and baseball games.  His grandchildren were his favorite ones to watch and he attended as many of their events as possible. Nothing made him happier that seeing them do what they love. Maurice was happiest when he was surround by his family.
Maurice is survived by his daughters, Beverly (Allen) Swaney of Thomas, Okla., Barb (Dan) Bottum of Tulare, Brenda (Neil) Wilkinson of Jewell, Iowa, Bonnie (Greg) Gusso of Yankton; his 12 grandchildren; 23 great-grandchildren; sisters, Melva Olson, Marlis Freeburg, and Marion Dring, all of Redfield; brothers, Marvin (Dorinne) Newman of Wilmar, Minn., Merlin (Judy) Newman of Aberdeen, Milton (Devonna) Newman of Mina; brother-in-law, Roger (Elvina) Engle of Minneapolis, Minn.; and his sister-in-law, Jean Levtzow of Redfield. 
Maurice was preceded in death by his wife, Joyce; his parents; his brother, Melvin Newman; and his brothers-in-law, Harold Olson, Robert Freeburg, Russ Dring, Wayne Engle, Virgel Engle and Gayle Levtzow.
Arrangements are under the direction of the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home and Onsite Crematory in Yankton. 
On line condolences may be sent at:
 www.opsahl- kostelfuneralhome.com. 
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