Alan D. Mills

Sutherland, Iowa

Alan D. Mills, 79, of Sutherland, passed away on Tuesday, May 26, 2026, at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

A celebration of life will be held at a later date.

Arrangements are under the care of the Eldridge Family Funeral Home in Sutherland.

Alan David Mills, 79 of Sutherland, IA passed away following a lengthy illness May 26,2026 at Sanford Health Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD.

Alan David Mills was born December 31, 1946 to George Allen Mills and Ruby Arlyn (Fink) Mills at Spangler, PA. He grew up in Youngstown, OH. until his family relocated to Tucson, AZ. While in Tucson he enlisted in the U.S. Navy on September 14, 1964 and was honorably discharged at San Diego, CA. November 13, 1964 after serving on the U.S.S. Kitty Hawk during the Viet Nam War.

He married Regina Ann Lenz July 8, 1967 while stationed in Long Beach, CA. three months before his discharge from the service. Two children were later born of this union, David Alan Mills in 1969 and Christine Arlyn in 1973.

After his service discharge the couple made their home in Howard, PA where he worked at Cerro Copper & Brass Company in Bellefonte, PA. until they made the move to Iowa in 1971. He briefly worked for Wilson Foods of Cherokee, IA and then Grundman Hicks Construction, later leaving that company to start his own construction company in 1973. Though retired he was still active in the business until it closed in 2023.

He served many years as Sutherland City Councilman, one term as City Mayor and an active volunteer for many community events or where help was needed. As a member of Bethel Lutheran Church in Sutherland, IA. he held many offices and offered his time, talents and service when and where needed. A member for fifty-three years of the Sutherland American Legion Post #152 he could be counted on to volunteer his time helping the Legion with Saturday Night Bingo and serving on the Honor Guard for funeral services for fellow veterans and marching in parades.

He especially loved spending time with his son and daughter, then grandchildren, then great grandchildren. He loved hunting, fishing and canoeing but most of all he loved talking to people, definitely having the gift of gab. His signature red & white polka dot hat that started as a way for his children and myself to pick him out in a crowd, became his identifier for many people. I made the remark once; if he took off his hat no one would know who he was.

He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Regina, son David, grandson’s Wesley David (Madison Gereats) Mills with great grandson Bennett Scott Mills and great granddaughter Parker JoAnn Mills, grandson Cole Alan (Megan) Mills and also greatly anticipated meeting his new great granddaughter soon to be born in July.

Brother George (Karen) Mills, sister Rebecca Conley and sister-in-law Kathy (the late Daniel) Mills all of Port Matilda, PA.

He was preceded in death by his daughter Christine in 2017, her husband Jason Top in 2015, his parents, his brother Daniel, his father and his mother, his mother-in-law and father-in-law and numerous aunts, uncles, cousins and special second cousin Hale Fink of Curwensville, PA.