It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Dennis "Denny" Joseph Burke, who died peacefully on November 9th, 2025, surrounded by his proud sons.
Denny, known for his sly wit and natural charm, could make a friend of any stranger. He was devoted to his family, his friends, his beloved wife Martha, and his Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Denny was born, along with his identical twin brother, Jimmy, on September 29, 1938, in Gary, Indiana, to Kathleen and Jim Burke. The inseparable "Double Dynamite" attended Campion Jesuit High School and the University of Notre Dame. For two decades, the brothers led the family business, James J. Burke & Sons Moving and Storage.
On December 28, 1963, Denny married his true love, Martha Jensen. For forty-eight joy-filled years, they shared a partnership grounded in deep affection and mutual admiration. Denny often said, “I can’t believe how lucky I was to marry Martha,” a sentiment his three sisters wholeheartedly echoed. Together, Denny and Martha raised six sons, attended countless school and sporting events, and—on occasion—paid a visit to the school principal’s office.
In 1979, the family embarked on a new adventure in South Dakota, where Denny managed sales and trucking for Marolf’s Dakota Farms Cheese in Sturgis. A proud Army veteran and devoted Navy enthusiast, he treasured the opportunity to sail on three “Tiger Cruises” with his son.
Alongside his beloved Martha, Denny enjoyed a retirement filled with old friends, frequent travel, and the joyful reward of thirteen grandchildren—nine girls and four boys.
After the sudden loss of Martha in 2011, Denny found renewed purpose through his faith, his expansive web of friends and family, and his gift of humor that brought laughter and joy to all.
Denny is survived by his sons: D.J. (Leslie); Tom (Rapid City, SD); Bill (Ruthie, Houston, TX); Mike (Angie, River Falls, WI); Ryan (Rapid City, SD); and Kevin (Kim, Rapid City, SD). He is also survived by his sisters, Kay Welsh (Robert, Chesterton, IN); Vee (Jim, Libertyville, IL); and Ellen (Scott, Long Lake, MN); and 13 grandchildren: Dylan, Jack, Connor, Edie, Kalen, Eliza, Samantha, Lily, Emily, Elizabeth, Charlie, Luke and Quinn.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Jimmy, his wife Martha, and granddaughters Edith and Eliza Burke. Denny will be greatly missed by an extensive number of caring and supportive friends and family in Rapid City and beyond.
Denny, known for his sly wit and natural charm, could make a friend of any stranger. He was devoted to his family, his friends, his beloved wife Martha, and his Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
Denny was born, along with his identical twin brother, Jimmy, on September 29, 1938, in Gary, Indiana, to Kathleen and Jim Burke. The inseparable "Double Dynamite" attended Campion Jesuit High School and the University of Notre Dame. For two decades, the brothers led the family business, James J. Burke & Sons Moving and Storage.
On December 28, 1963, Denny married his true love, Martha Jensen. For forty-eight joy-filled years, they shared a partnership grounded in deep affection and mutual admiration. Denny often said, “I can’t believe how lucky I was to marry Martha,” a sentiment his three sisters wholeheartedly echoed. Together, Denny and Martha raised six sons, attended countless school and sporting events, and—on occasion—paid a visit to the school principal’s office.
In 1979, the family embarked on a new adventure in South Dakota, where Denny managed sales and trucking for Marolf’s Dakota Farms Cheese in Sturgis. A proud Army veteran and devoted Navy enthusiast, he treasured the opportunity to sail on three “Tiger Cruises” with his son.
Alongside his beloved Martha, Denny enjoyed a retirement filled with old friends, frequent travel, and the joyful reward of thirteen grandchildren—nine girls and four boys.
After the sudden loss of Martha in 2011, Denny found renewed purpose through his faith, his expansive web of friends and family, and his gift of humor that brought laughter and joy to all.
Denny is survived by his sons: D.J. (Leslie); Tom (Rapid City, SD); Bill (Ruthie, Houston, TX); Mike (Angie, River Falls, WI); Ryan (Rapid City, SD); and Kevin (Kim, Rapid City, SD). He is also survived by his sisters, Kay Welsh (Robert, Chesterton, IN); Vee (Jim, Libertyville, IL); and Ellen (Scott, Long Lake, MN); and 13 grandchildren: Dylan, Jack, Connor, Edie, Kalen, Eliza, Samantha, Lily, Emily, Elizabeth, Charlie, Luke and Quinn.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his brother Jimmy, his wife Martha, and granddaughters Edith and Eliza Burke. Denny will be greatly missed by an extensive number of caring and supportive friends and family in Rapid City and beyond.
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