Owen Francis McDonagh

Rock Rapids, Iowa

Owen McDonagh age 83, of Rock Rapids, IA died Tuesday, April 8, 2025, at Inpatient Oncology on the Avera McKennan Hospital Campus in Sioux Falls, SD, with family by his side.

Family and friends will gather at 12:45 p.m. for Graveside service at 1:00 p.m. Saturday, April 19, 2025, at the Riverview Cemetery in Rock Rapids, IA, with Pastor Jeff Poppinga officiating.

McDonagh family asks that memorials be designated to: Guardian Angels Catholic Church in Oakdale, MN, Holy Name Catholic Church in Rock Rapids, or Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church in Edina, MN.

Owen Francis McDonagh was born on September 9, 1941, in Miles City, MT, the son of James and Violet Anna (Riley) McDonagh. He attended and graduated from Rosebud High School in Rosebud, MT. Owen then attended Montana State University in Bozeman, MT earning a BS in Agricultural, and then farmed for many years in Montana.

On December 2, 1978, Owen was united in marriage to Nancy Conger (Gollehon) with Father O’Riley of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and Pastor Stan Rosenbom of First Lutheran Church, Miles City, MT officiating. The couple lived in several places throughout their married life such as Miles City, MT, Scobey, MT, Havre, MT, Woodbury, MN, and Rock Rapids, IA. Owen worked for the USDA-SCS as a conservationist for twenty-two years. Owen worked in various employment after retirement from USDA and didn’t stop working until he started treatment for T-PLL at Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, four years ago. He was a member of following Catholic Churches: Sacred Heart, Miles City, MT, Guardian Angels, Oakdale, MN, and Holy Name, Rock Rapids, IA, and a member of Knights of Columbus. Owen’s hobbies included crossword puzzles and politics. He could easily argue either side of the coin.

Owen is survived by his wife of 46 years, Nancy McDonagh of Rock Rapids, IA; two children, Linnie (Marcus) Ditsworth of Rock Rapids, IA, and Barton (Michele) Conger of Woodbury, MN; five grandchildren, Xander, Xaccai, and Adelinne Ditsworth, Maria and Gianna Conger; brother, John McDonagh of Puyallup, WA; and sister, Alice Parks of Sioux Falls, SD; nieces, nephews, and other extended family members.

He was preceded in death by his parents, James and Violet McDonagh; seven siblings, Eunice Ganteaum, James Peter McDonagh, Charles McDonagh, William McDonagh, Eleanor Klar, Peter McDonagh, and Therese McDonagh Weber.

His smile and humor will be missed by family and friends alike.