Theodore Francis Tornow (Sonny), of Murdo passed away peacefully on July 7, 2025, at the Kadoka Nursing Home after achieving 90 years. Sonny was born May 25, 1935, in Murdo, South Dakota to Theodore Walter and Viola Genevieve (Johnson) Tornow. Sonny graduated from Murdo High School in 1954, then attended trade school for welding in Mitchell, South Dakota. He returned to Jones County and ranched and farmed with his father and also ran an automobile repair business until the shop burned down and he lost all his tools and equipment. Sonny then focused on farming and ranching thereafter.

He met the love of his life, Evelyn Sophie Dreier, and married her on October 17, 1959, at Christ the King Catholic Church, after an extended courtship where Sonny had to be on his best behavior! The happy couple had four children together, Greg, Darci, Derek, and Jason. Sonny supported his wife and children through life’s hardships and taught them what he knew about being good people. After a complete cattle dispersion sale in January 2004, he leased the land and retired. Sonny and Evelyn happily traveled to visit friends and family and see interesting places together.

Following the loss of Evelyn in 2014 from complications of injuries from a car accident, he and his son, Derek, re-established the cattle herd. This provided Sonny a new sense of purpose as he taught Derek, and two of Derek’s children, how to do the things he did for a lifetime. Teddy and Kylie have many fond memories of this time (some not so great as what is said while working cattle does not count) with their grandpa and the sacrifices one makes to feed people and to LOVE the land. Sonny enjoyed educating his family on the meaning of life and the value of hard work and sacrifice. Sonny also enjoyed spending many nights listening to the music of Jimmy Swaggart and watching Mollie B. Polka Party.

Sonny loved ranching and anything that involved animals, especially cattle. He loved the land and was a great steward of the prairie range. He implemented grazing strategies to improve the grasses for livestock and wildlife. He believed that hard work was essential to a purposeful life, and he worked hard to provide for his family. He survived many hardships including drought, prairie fires, disease, grasshoppers, and death of animals, friends, and family. Life was hard but he would not quit. He also enjoyed fixing things: tractors, trucks, fence—you name it, he fixed it. He was hardened by the challenges of life but loved his family, friends, and animals. He was one of kind, and he will be deeply missed.

He is survived by two sons, Derek (Jo) Tornow, Jason Tornow, a daughter, Darci (Kelly) Lanam all of Rapid City; six grandchildren, Samantha (Evan) Kleinpaste, Ali (August) Schaefbauer, Tyler (Chris) Lanam, Michelle (Josh) Moore, Theodore Tornow, and Kylie Tornow.

He was preceded in death by his beloved wife, Evelyn, his infant son, Greg Allen, a brother, Terry Tornow, a sister, Pat Ann Burke, of LaGrange Il, and his parents.

Christian funeral will be celebrated at 10 am CST at St. Martins Catholic Church in Murdo, SD. Interment will follow at the Murdo Cemetery. Lunch will be served at St. Martins Catholic church shortly after Interment.