Reverend Rodney Raymond Gist, age 97, died Saturday, June 22, at Ava’s Hospice House in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, after a brief final illness. He was a retired elder of the Dakotas Conference. 

Rev. Gist served the Dakotas Conference at Viborg/ Irene; Sioux Falls First; Britton/ Langford; Canistota/ Salem; Canistota/ Riverside; Spearfish; Gregory Larger Parish; and Canton. He served in an exchange with a British Methodist pastor from 1968-1969.  He received an honorary doctorate from Dakota Wesleyan University and the Dakotas Conference Peace and Justice Award.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, June 27, at 10:30 a.m., at First United Methodist Church in Sioux Falls. Visitation with the family present will be at the church from 4-8 p.m. on Wednesday, June 26, and 9 a.m. until the time of service on June 27. 

The family has requested a clergy choir. Any clergy who plan to sing in the choir meet at 9:30 a.m. for practice before the service.

View the full obituary here.