Wayne Lucien Medill, 84, Hardwick, died Monday, Nov. 15, 2010, at Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D.

A funeral service will be Thursday, Nov. 18, at St. Leo Catholic Church in Pipestone. Burial will follow at St. Leo Catholic Cemetery in Pipestone.

Wayne Medill was born June 2, 1926, to Henry Sr. and Catherine (Sorenson) Medill Sr. on the family farm in Denver Township near Hardwick, where he was raised. He attended country school District 75. After he completed his education, he worked for Loren Forrest Dairy in Luverne.

On July 22, 1947, he married Lois Evans at St. Leo Catholic Church in Pipestone. Following their marriage they lived on the family farm near Hardwick, where he lived his entire life. Over the years he was a bus driver in Hardwick, worked at Russell Ripley's gas station in Luverne, and he also catered at Blue Mound Inn for many years.

He was a member of St. Leo Catholic Church. He was on the church bowling league and played on the church ball team in his younger years. He was a past member of Knights of Columbus. He enjoyed fishing and made annual trips to Canada for more than 30 years. He also enjoyed hunting deer, pheasants and geese. He loved gardening, spending time with his grandchildren and playing cards with his family. He was well known as Santa Claus during Christmas because of his full white beard as well as for handing out suckers as treats.

Mr. Medill is survived by his wife, Lois Medill, Hardwick; 10 children, Iris (Doug) Parrott, Gaylord, Sue (Chuck) Franz, and Sally Meeker, all of Pipestone, Cindy Medill, Hardwick, Tom Medill, Brandon, S.D., Tim (Brenda) Medill, Sioux Falls, Terry Medill, Kenneth, Jackie (Dennis) Gyberg, Luverne, Lisa (Tim) Watts, Yankton, S.D., and Merry (Rob) Hill, Brookings, S.D.; 22 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; and one sister, Marion Colbeck, Hopkins.

He was preceded in death by his parents; one son-in-law, Steve Meeker; and nine siblings, Beatrice Medill, Durward Medill, Henrietta Tufte, Jean Cotie, Henry Medill, Jr., Robert Medill, Mildred DeBates, Catherine Benson, and Arlene Lester.

Arrangements were provided by Hartquist Funeral Home — Engebretson Chapel of Luverne, www.hartquistfuneral.com.