Ronald L. Ensenbach

Ronald L. Ensenbach, age 78, of Yankton, passed away Sunday, April 19, 2026 at Arbor Care Center in Hartington, Nebraska. Visitations will be from 5:00-7:00 pm with a 7:00 pm prayer service on Wednesday, April 22, 2026 at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home in Yankton. Ron’s funeral service will be 10:30 am, Thursday, April 23, 2026 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Yankton with Pastor Jake Bobby officiating. Burial will follow at the Garden of Memories Cemetery in Yankton. Online condolences may be sent at www.okfhc.com. Livestreaming of Ron’s funeral service can be viewed at https://server.attend.live/static/event/gJ7mZ. Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home and Onsite Crematory is assisting the family with arrangements.

On April 19, 2026, Ronald Leo Ensenbach was called to his eternal home. Ronald was given life by his creator and born to Floyd and Leona (Jurczenwsky) Ensenbach on December 10, 1947. He was welcomed home by two brothers, Roger and Gary, and a sister Barbara later completed the family. He was baptized in 1948 and confirmed in 1961 at Memorial Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls, SD. Ron attended public schools in Sioux Falls, graduating from Washington Senior High in 1965.

After graduation Ron enlisted in the U. S. Air Force during the Vietnam era. He was a Security AJR policeman serving tour in California and Guam and was honorably discharged in 1968. Ron returned to Sioux Fall where he worked for Fenn Brothers Candy and Ice Cream factory.

With law enforcement in his blood, he began working for the Parkston Police Department in 1969, working his way up to police chief. In 1970 he met his future wife, Patricia Lehrkamp, who was doing her student teaching in Parkston. Ron and Pat were united in marriage on Aug. 15, 1971 at Zion Lutheran Church in Delmont, SD. They moved to Yankton where Ron was hired as a police officer by the Yankton Police Department and Pat became a teacher at Stewart School. Both Ron and Pat held their jobs for 33 years before retiring in 2003. Ron retired as a police sergeant. Ron worked part time for another 9 years in the meat department at HyVee.

Ron and Pat were faithful member of St. John’s Lutheran Church where Ron held various offices and Pat played the organ. Ron was a life time member of the V.F.W. and the American Legion. He was a charter member of the Yankton Fraternal Order of Police and the South Dakota Peace Officers Association.

Ron is survived by a brother Roger, a sister Barbara (Terry) Stinson of Spearfish, SD, a nephew and godson Devon Stinston, Spearfish, SD, goddaughter Andrea (Darin) Indahl, special friends Norman and Kathy Wright, Yankton, Elizabeth Wright-Williams (Blake), Jersey City, NJ, and several cousins and other friends.

Ron was preceded in death by his beloved wife Pat in 2018, his parents Floyd and Leona, a brother, Gary, his father and mother-in-law, Norbert and Emma Lehrkamp, and a nephew, Tanner.