Michael "Mike" D. Prather

Memorial services for Michael D. “Mike” Prather, 73, of Madison, will be 2:00 p.m. July 2, 2025, at Trinity United Methodist Church in Madison. Reverend Caitlin Bentzinger will officiate. 

Inurnment will be at Crown Hill Cemetery in Madison with Military Honors conducted the Army National Guard Honor Guard, American Legion Post 35, Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5763, and American Legion Riders. 

Visitation with family will be one hour prior to service at the church. 

Resseguie Funeral Home in Madison is in charge of arrangements.

Mike passed away Monday, June 23, 2025, at Sanford Webster Medical Center in Webster, South Dakota.

Michael David Prather was born Thursday, December 20, 1951, in Norfolk, Nebraska to Derald and Ruth (Chandler) Prather. He graduated from Madison High School in 1970. Following graduation, Mike served in the United States Army in Vietnam. After his return, he earned an associate’s degree in criminal justice from Northeast Community College in Norfolk in 1973.

On February 8, 1974, Mike married Peggy Lee Claussen at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Yankton, South Dakota. The couple was blessed with three children: Kristopher, David, and Miranda. 

Mike served with the Madison County Sheriff’s Department from 1980 until 2019. In 1986, he was named Chief Deputy. During his time at the Sheriff’s Department, Mike graduated from the FBI National Academy in Virginia. 

Mike served as commander and quartermaster of VFW Post 5763 in Madison.

In his free time, Mike loved spending time with his family, hunting, fishing, and the farm life. He enjoyed working with his horses and cows.   

He is survived by his wife of 51 years, Peggy; son, David “Joe” Prather of Madison; daughter, Miranda (Patrick) Heine of Norfolk; grandchildren, Mae, Mark, Mikah, Lydia, and Kris; great-granddaughter, Charlotte Stark; brothers, Jeff (Alvera) Prather of Madison and James (Theresa) Prather of Madison; sister-in-law, Rose Prather of Norfolk; aunt, Joan Prather of Colorado; uncles, Joe (Darlene) Chandler of California and Jerry Miller of Madison; brothers-in-law, Delbert (Mary) Claussen of Carroll, Sandy Claussen of Norfolk, and Keith (Cindy) Claussen of Carroll; nieces, nephews, and cousins; and best “buddy”, Dale (Bev) Vonderohe.   

Mike was preceded in death by his parents; son, Kristopher Michael; brother, Patrick Prather; and several aunts, uncles, and cousins.

Memorials are suggested to American Legion Post 35. 

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