Dennis Keith Markle was born Nov. 16, 1940, to Keith and Ruth (Wergin) Markle in Seward. He passed away Dec. 23, 2024, in Dallas, Texas.
After graduating from Seward High School, Dennis went on to attend The University of Nebraska at Lincoln (Go Huskers!), graduating with a Bachelor of Business Administration degree in 1963.
After graduation, Dennis had a successful career in the meat and poultry sales business. While working for Wilson Foods in Denver, Colorado, he met Jimme Lightfoot. Dennis and Jimme were married Dec. 27, 1969, in Childress, Texas. Dennis and Jimme were parents to two children, Jeffrey and Jennifer.
Dennis’ career landed the family in a few locales in the Midwest (Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri), before ultimately settling in DeSoto, Texas, in 1983, when Dennis accepted a job as sales manager for Pilgrim’s Pride. Dennis and Jimme loved their time in DeSoto and were very active in the kids’ activities and in their church, First United Methodist of DeSoto.
Sadly, Jimme passed away in 1990, but Dennis remained active in the community for many more years. He was a longtime member of the DeSoto Lions Club and served with Meals on Wheels. After leaving the poultry industry, Dennis was the proud owner of a local business in DeSoto, the Mail Market, which offered packaging, shipping and other services. Dennis enjoyed serving in the community, spending time with family/friends and rooting for his beloved Nebraska Cornhuskers and local sports teams.
Preceding Dennis in death were his parents, Keith and Ruth Markle; his wife, Jimme; and his sister and brother-in-law, Fran and Harry Rediger. Dennis is survived by his brother and sister-in-law, Richard and Ruth Markle of St. Louis; son and daughter-in-law, Jeffrey and Kimberlee Markle, of Fort Worth, Texas; and his daughter, Jennifer (Markle) Bentley, of Plano, Texas. He is also survived by five beloved grandchildren, who knew him as “Pappy,” Megan, Miranda, and August Markle, and Zachary and Alexandra Bentley.
The family asks that in lieu of flowers, donations in Dennis Markle’s memory be made to the First United Methodist Church of DeSoto, designated for the “endowment,” https://www.fumcdesoto.org/.
The funeral service was Jan. 3 at the First United Methodist Church in DeSoto with interment in Holy Redeemer Cemetery, DeSoto.
Arrangements by West-Hurtt Funeral Home in DeSoto.
