Stephen Dale METLI

Section 15


Steve Metli
May 30, 1945 - January 30, 2017

Steve Metli age 71 of Sioux Falls, passed away Monday January 30, 2017 at Sanford medical Center. The family will greet friends from 5:00-7:0 pm Friday February 3, at Miller Funeral Home, 507 S. Main Avenue. Mass of Christian burial will be said at 10:00 am Saturday at the Cathedral of St. Joseph. In lieu of flowers, the family request donations be made in memory of Steve to the LifeScape Foundation, McCrossan Boys Ranch or a charity of your choice.

Stephen Dale Metli was born on May 30, 1945 to Palmer and Jean Metli. Steve was raised in a military family and attended 15 schools before graduating from O’Gorman High School in 1963. He attended the University of South Dakota, and after a three-year hiatus in the United States Army, he graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Government in 1971.

Steve retired as Director of Planning and Building Services for the City of Sioux Falls in 2005. During his career, Steve worked for five mayors and numerous City Commissioners and Council members. Over his 31-year career, Steve supervised the City Departments of Planning, Zoning, Building Inspections, Sioux Falls Transit and Media Services. He also provided liaison services to the Arena, Convention Center, and the Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science. However, Steve never actually retired from service to the community but continued to serve on numerous boards for non-profit and service organizations until his death. Statewide recognition of Steve’s many contributions was acknowledged when Governor Mike Rounds presented Steve with the “Municipal Employee of the Year” award at the South Dakota Municipal League conference in 2004.

Steve was proudest of the role he played in the preservation and development of the Falls Park, the Big Sioux River Greenway and the bicycle trail system. Other passions of Steve’s were downtown development, neighborhood improvement plans, and serving as project manager for construction of the Sioux Falls Convention Center/Sheraton Hotel.

Steve’s civic involvement included Prairieland Economic Development Corp., Sioux Falls Boys Club, Dakota Bowl-O’Gorman High School, O’Gorman Foundation, United Way Construction Division, Canaries Baseball Stadium Development Committee, Washington Pavilion Kirby Science Center Advisory Board, Falls Park Wells Fargo Sound & Light Show Committee, March of Dimes, American Cancer Society, Sioux Falls Recreation and Event Center Task Force, Sioux Falls Zoological Society, Member Sioux Falls O’Gorman Hall of Fame, McCrossans Boys Ranch, Sioux Falls Area Foundation Development Committee and Downtown Development Committee, and LifeScape Foundation.

Family would like to thank all of Steve’s wonderful friends for being a part of his life and sharing in his love for the City of Sioux Falls, especially his close friends Craig and Pat Lloyd and Jim and Betty Halde.

In addition, we would like to leave with you a phrase Steve repeatedly told us, “Always leave wherever you are better than how you found it.”

Steve was preceded in death by his parents, sister Angela, and nephews Michael and Thomas Metli. He is survived by his children Mindy Johnson, Matthew Metli and Mary (Eric) Meester; grandchildren Drew Colyer, Michael Johnson, Cassidy (Joseph) Dahlhausen, and Justin Johnson; great-grandchildren Maxwell, Audric, Zaiden and Paige; brothers Michael (Marie), John (Sherry) and Brian (Barbara); sister Gina (Thomas) Riedner; a niece, Ann Metli, nephews Mason and Marshall Metli; special friend Kathy Van De Walle.

Contributed on 9/18/23 by 9katz
Email This Contributor

Suggest a Correction

Record #: 275407

Don't Follow