Myles James DeVine was born in Britton on June 28, 1943 to James Thomas DeVine and Ebba (Nielsen) DeVine of Veblen. In 1947 when his sister, Patricia was born, the family moved to Britton where James was employed in law enforcement. Myles attended Britton schools, graduating from BHS in 1961. He went to the University of South Dakota from 1961-1969 earning a BA, MA, and Juris Doctorate, earning honors and being on the Law Review. It was there in 1964 that he started dating Karen (Nale) from Pierre, SD. They were married in 1965. She began her teaching career while he finished his education. In 1969 he was awarded a year’s clerkship with the U.S. District Court under Judge Axel Beck. The Court sat in Deadwood and Aberdeen. The DeVines moved to Aberdeen where their son, Jason Myles, was born.
In July of 1970, they took possession of their current home at 809 6th St., Britton. Myles opened a private law practice, officing with local attorney L. R. Gustafson. He was elected States Attorney that fall and held that position for 25 years. Their daughter, Heather Anne was born in Britton in 1974. In 1996 he was appointed by Gov. William Janklow to be a Circuit Judge for South Dakota’s 5th Circuit, which sat mainly in Aberdeen, Britton and Sisseton, which required extensive driving, giving him the most miles of any circuit judge in a year as he served the 10 counties in the circuit. In 2000 he was appointed to the position of U.S. Magistrate Judge for the northern division of the U.S. District Court which encompassed 15 counties, holding court in Aberdeen. He retired in 2005. In 2008 he was elected County Commissioner for Marshall County, a position he currently held.
Karen recalls that there never was a time that he did not plan to live in Marshall County. Their children were not going to be raised anywhere else. His parents had purchased the land across the gravel road from where they lived until he was three. The family did not move there but spent every spare hour there, mostly working on their dream. By 1965 when Myles and Karen were married, they had both sheep and cattle. Myles and Karen purchased the land from his parents and in 2003 began living there from May to November. Seven “additions”, family projects done with the help of many friends, have been done to the house, amid lots of laughter. It has been “the farm” to dozens of all ages who have worked, played trivial pursuit, shot off firecrackers, gone wheeling on the 3 and now 4 wheelers, hunted, sung karaoke, and just hung out.
Myles’s personality and upbringing added a unique aspect to everything he did. He tried to find the peaceful path first. But then, if that didn’t work, there was the steel of his principles. The New Testament Book of James was his guide. He was devoted to making Marshall County the best he could: helping form the original County-Wide Law Enforcement system, helping supervise the hiring of all new county employees as retirement left positions vacant, getting as many roads as possible travelable despite the wet years and the budget constraints, helping to build the ambulance garage and support the ambulance crew in their efforts, increasing handicap accessibility to the court house, and preserving the historic Court House itself. He said he spent his whole life in that courthouse since he and his mom had spent their first night living in Britton, sleeping in the jail, until the family’s house could be ready. When Karen ordered the stone for the Britton cemetery plot in 2011, she had the courthouse engraved on it.
Myles's strongest personality trait was his social ability. He liked people and could talk with anyone. He, like his father before him, worked hard to build and maintain the Democratic Party. He was active in Britton JCs, Marshallaires, 49ers, Odd Fellows, the Fun After Fifty coffee group, and Three-Season Whist Club. He was a lifelong member of St. John de Britto Catholic Church, serving as altar boy, lector, Eucharistic Minister, and council member.
But none of this mattered in comparison to his devotion to Karen and their family. He led family projects that taught important skills like building, fencing, and laughing. As their daughter’s health worsened, he learned the nursing skills needed to care for her. His son Jason is his great pride and their times together were an important incentive. Now Jason’s adult daughter Hayley is in his dream. His parents were priority two, (or sometimes one, according to Karen.) He provided an anchor for the extended family. His nephew, Christopher Rothe lived some summers with them and came back to Marshall County to law enforcement for 8 years. Myles’s sister Patricia and her husband Tom Rothe have moved back to Britton. Myles taught all to ride three wheelers. And he did it all with humor.
Myles fought the battle of Type One Insulin dependent Diabetes from 1962. He endured the many complications with dignity and optimism. His heart failed him Nov 26, 2016. His survivors include his wife Karen, son Jason Myles (Woodbury, MN), his daughter Heather Anne (Britton), his granddaughter Hayley DeVine (St. Paul Park, MN), his sister Patricia and her husband Tom Rothe of Britton, and his nephew Chris Rothe and daughter Kennedy and son AJ of Rochester, MN. His parents, Jim and Ebba, preceded him in death.
In July of 1970, they took possession of their current home at 809 6th St., Britton. Myles opened a private law practice, officing with local attorney L. R. Gustafson. He was elected States Attorney that fall and held that position for 25 years. Their daughter, Heather Anne was born in Britton in 1974. In 1996 he was appointed by Gov. William Janklow to be a Circuit Judge for South Dakota’s 5th Circuit, which sat mainly in Aberdeen, Britton and Sisseton, which required extensive driving, giving him the most miles of any circuit judge in a year as he served the 10 counties in the circuit. In 2000 he was appointed to the position of U.S. Magistrate Judge for the northern division of the U.S. District Court which encompassed 15 counties, holding court in Aberdeen. He retired in 2005. In 2008 he was elected County Commissioner for Marshall County, a position he currently held.
Karen recalls that there never was a time that he did not plan to live in Marshall County. Their children were not going to be raised anywhere else. His parents had purchased the land across the gravel road from where they lived until he was three. The family did not move there but spent every spare hour there, mostly working on their dream. By 1965 when Myles and Karen were married, they had both sheep and cattle. Myles and Karen purchased the land from his parents and in 2003 began living there from May to November. Seven “additions”, family projects done with the help of many friends, have been done to the house, amid lots of laughter. It has been “the farm” to dozens of all ages who have worked, played trivial pursuit, shot off firecrackers, gone wheeling on the 3 and now 4 wheelers, hunted, sung karaoke, and just hung out.
Myles’s personality and upbringing added a unique aspect to everything he did. He tried to find the peaceful path first. But then, if that didn’t work, there was the steel of his principles. The New Testament Book of James was his guide. He was devoted to making Marshall County the best he could: helping form the original County-Wide Law Enforcement system, helping supervise the hiring of all new county employees as retirement left positions vacant, getting as many roads as possible travelable despite the wet years and the budget constraints, helping to build the ambulance garage and support the ambulance crew in their efforts, increasing handicap accessibility to the court house, and preserving the historic Court House itself. He said he spent his whole life in that courthouse since he and his mom had spent their first night living in Britton, sleeping in the jail, until the family’s house could be ready. When Karen ordered the stone for the Britton cemetery plot in 2011, she had the courthouse engraved on it.
Myles's strongest personality trait was his social ability. He liked people and could talk with anyone. He, like his father before him, worked hard to build and maintain the Democratic Party. He was active in Britton JCs, Marshallaires, 49ers, Odd Fellows, the Fun After Fifty coffee group, and Three-Season Whist Club. He was a lifelong member of St. John de Britto Catholic Church, serving as altar boy, lector, Eucharistic Minister, and council member.
But none of this mattered in comparison to his devotion to Karen and their family. He led family projects that taught important skills like building, fencing, and laughing. As their daughter’s health worsened, he learned the nursing skills needed to care for her. His son Jason is his great pride and their times together were an important incentive. Now Jason’s adult daughter Hayley is in his dream. His parents were priority two, (or sometimes one, according to Karen.) He provided an anchor for the extended family. His nephew, Christopher Rothe lived some summers with them and came back to Marshall County to law enforcement for 8 years. Myles’s sister Patricia and her husband Tom Rothe have moved back to Britton. Myles taught all to ride three wheelers. And he did it all with humor.
Myles fought the battle of Type One Insulin dependent Diabetes from 1962. He endured the many complications with dignity and optimism. His heart failed him Nov 26, 2016. His survivors include his wife Karen, son Jason Myles (Woodbury, MN), his daughter Heather Anne (Britton), his granddaughter Hayley DeVine (St. Paul Park, MN), his sister Patricia and her husband Tom Rothe of Britton, and his nephew Chris Rothe and daughter Kennedy and son AJ of Rochester, MN. His parents, Jim and Ebba, preceded him in death.
Myles James DeVine was born in Britton on June 28, 1943 to James Thomas DeVine and Ebba (Nielsen) DeVine of Veblen. In 1947 when his sister, Patricia was born, the family moved to Britton where James was employed in law enforcement. Myles attended Britton schools, graduating from BHS in 1961. He went to the University of South Dakota from 1961-1969 earning a BA, MA, and Juris Doctorate, earning honors and being on the Law Review. It was there in 1964 that he started dating Karen (Nale) from Pierre, SD. They were married in 1965. She began her teaching career while he finished his education. In 1969 he was awarded a year’s clerkship with the U.S. District Court under Judge Axel Beck. The Court sat in Deadwood and Aberdeen. The DeVines moved to Aberdeen where their son, Jason Myles, was born.
In July of 1970, they took possession of their current home at 809 6th St., Britton. Myles opened a private law practice, officing with local attorney L. R. Gustafson. He was elected States Attorney that fall and held that position for 25 years. Their daughter, Heather Anne was born in Britton in 1974. In 1996 he was appointed by Gov. William Janklow to be a Circuit Judge for South Dakota’s 5th Circuit, which sat mainly in Aberdeen, Britton and Sisseton, which required extensive driving, giving him the most miles of any circuit judge in a year as he served the 10 counties in the circuit. In 2000 he was appointed to the position of U.S. Magistrate Judge for the northern division of the U.S. District Court which encompassed 15 counties, holding court in Aberdeen. He retired in 2005. In 2008 he was elected County Commissioner for Marshall County, a position he currently held.
Karen recalls that there never was a time that he did not plan to live in Marshall County. Their children were not going to be raised anywhere else. His parents had purchased the land across the gravel road from where they lived until he was three. The family did not move there but spent every spare hour there, mostly working on their dream. By 1965 when Myles and Karen were married, they had both sheep and cattle. Myles and Karen purchased the land from his parents and in 2003 began living there from May to November. Seven “additions”, family projects done with the help of many friends, have been done to the house, amid lots of laughter. It has been “the farm” to dozens of all ages who have worked, played trivial pursuit, shot off firecrackers, gone wheeling on the 3 and now 4 wheelers, hunted, sung karaoke, and just hung out.
Myles’s personality and upbringing added a unique aspect to everything he did. He tried to find the peaceful path first. But then, if that didn’t work, there was the steel of his principles. The New Testament Book of James was his guide. He was devoted to making Marshall County the best he could: helping form the original County-Wide Law Enforcement system, helping supervise the hiring of all new county employees as retirement left positions vacant, getting as many roads as possible travelable despite the wet years and the budget constraints, helping to build the ambulance garage and support the ambulance crew in their efforts, increasing handicap accessibility to the court house, and preserving the historic Court House itself. He said he spent his whole life in that courthouse since he and his mom had spent their first night living in Britton, sleeping in the jail, until the family’s house could be ready. When Karen ordered the stone for the Britton cemetery plot in 2011, she had the courthouse engraved on it.
Myles's strongest personality trait was his social ability. He liked people and could talk with anyone. He, like his father before him, worked hard to build and maintain the Democratic Party. He was active in Britton JCs, Marshallaires, 49ers, Odd Fellows, the Fun After Fifty coffee group, and Three-Season Whist Club. He was a lifelong member of St. John de Britto Catholic Church, serving as altar boy, lector, Eucharistic Minister, and council member.
But none of this mattered in comparison to his devotion to Karen and their family. He led family projects that taught important skills like building, fencing, and laughing. As their daughter’s health worsened, he learned the nursing skills needed to care for her. His son Jason is his great pride and their times together were an important incentive. Now Jason’s adult daughter Hayley is in his dream. His parents were priority two, (or sometimes one, according to Karen.) He provided an anchor for the extended family. His nephew, Christopher Rothe lived some summers with them and came back to Marshall County to law enforcement for 8 years. Myles’s sister Patricia and her husband Tom Rothe have moved back to Britton. Myles taught all to ride three wheelers. And he did it all with humor.
Myles fought the battle of Type One Insulin dependent Diabetes from 1962. He endured the many complications with dignity and optimism. His heart failed him Nov 26, 2016. His survivors include his wife Karen, son Jason Myles (Woodbury, MN), his daughter Heather Anne (Britton), his granddaughter Hayley DeVine (St. Paul Park, MN), his sister Patricia and her husband Tom Rothe of Britton, and his nephew Chris Rothe and daughter Kennedy and son AJ of Rochester, MN. His parents, Jim and Ebba, preceded him in death.
In July of 1970, they took possession of their current home at 809 6th St., Britton. Myles opened a private law practice, officing with local attorney L. R. Gustafson. He was elected States Attorney that fall and held that position for 25 years. Their daughter, Heather Anne was born in Britton in 1974. In 1996 he was appointed by Gov. William Janklow to be a Circuit Judge for South Dakota’s 5th Circuit, which sat mainly in Aberdeen, Britton and Sisseton, which required extensive driving, giving him the most miles of any circuit judge in a year as he served the 10 counties in the circuit. In 2000 he was appointed to the position of U.S. Magistrate Judge for the northern division of the U.S. District Court which encompassed 15 counties, holding court in Aberdeen. He retired in 2005. In 2008 he was elected County Commissioner for Marshall County, a position he currently held.
Karen recalls that there never was a time that he did not plan to live in Marshall County. Their children were not going to be raised anywhere else. His parents had purchased the land across the gravel road from where they lived until he was three. The family did not move there but spent every spare hour there, mostly working on their dream. By 1965 when Myles and Karen were married, they had both sheep and cattle. Myles and Karen purchased the land from his parents and in 2003 began living there from May to November. Seven “additions”, family projects done with the help of many friends, have been done to the house, amid lots of laughter. It has been “the farm” to dozens of all ages who have worked, played trivial pursuit, shot off firecrackers, gone wheeling on the 3 and now 4 wheelers, hunted, sung karaoke, and just hung out.
Myles’s personality and upbringing added a unique aspect to everything he did. He tried to find the peaceful path first. But then, if that didn’t work, there was the steel of his principles. The New Testament Book of James was his guide. He was devoted to making Marshall County the best he could: helping form the original County-Wide Law Enforcement system, helping supervise the hiring of all new county employees as retirement left positions vacant, getting as many roads as possible travelable despite the wet years and the budget constraints, helping to build the ambulance garage and support the ambulance crew in their efforts, increasing handicap accessibility to the court house, and preserving the historic Court House itself. He said he spent his whole life in that courthouse since he and his mom had spent their first night living in Britton, sleeping in the jail, until the family’s house could be ready. When Karen ordered the stone for the Britton cemetery plot in 2011, she had the courthouse engraved on it.
Myles's strongest personality trait was his social ability. He liked people and could talk with anyone. He, like his father before him, worked hard to build and maintain the Democratic Party. He was active in Britton JCs, Marshallaires, 49ers, Odd Fellows, the Fun After Fifty coffee group, and Three-Season Whist Club. He was a lifelong member of St. John de Britto Catholic Church, serving as altar boy, lector, Eucharistic Minister, and council member.
But none of this mattered in comparison to his devotion to Karen and their family. He led family projects that taught important skills like building, fencing, and laughing. As their daughter’s health worsened, he learned the nursing skills needed to care for her. His son Jason is his great pride and their times together were an important incentive. Now Jason’s adult daughter Hayley is in his dream. His parents were priority two, (or sometimes one, according to Karen.) He provided an anchor for the extended family. His nephew, Christopher Rothe lived some summers with them and came back to Marshall County to law enforcement for 8 years. Myles’s sister Patricia and her husband Tom Rothe have moved back to Britton. Myles taught all to ride three wheelers. And he did it all with humor.
Myles fought the battle of Type One Insulin dependent Diabetes from 1962. He endured the many complications with dignity and optimism. His heart failed him Nov 26, 2016. His survivors include his wife Karen, son Jason Myles (Woodbury, MN), his daughter Heather Anne (Britton), his granddaughter Hayley DeVine (St. Paul Park, MN), his sister Patricia and her husband Tom Rothe of Britton, and his nephew Chris Rothe and daughter Kennedy and son AJ of Rochester, MN. His parents, Jim and Ebba, preceded him in death.
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