Dennis Nordquist passed away on Tuesday, February 5, 2019 at his home in Hemet, California. He was 79 years old. Dennis was born January 16, 1940 in Lake City, South Dakota. He was the youngest child of Gustaf and Olive Nordquist. He married his wife of 57 years, Kathleen, in September of 1961.
He graduated from South Dakota State College with a Bachelor's Degree in engineering. Direct from college he joined the Central Intelligence Agency's small design team, the Archangel Project, code named Oxcart that resulted in the CIA's A-12 and subsequently the Air Force SR-71 Blackbird. He was awarded the Silent Warrior medal by CIA Director Leon Panetta. Dennis was an entrepreneur, builder, inventor and holds several patents.
He was an outdoorsman who enjoyed fishing and hunting. He was an artist of all mediums and reading was a passion. Surviving are wife, Kathleen, daughters Shelly Toner, Stacy Korfist, Cindy (Tim) Cowdrey and his son, Erik (Lalita) Nordquist; brother Edward Nordquist, sister, Darlene Nelson; 9 grandchildren, Jolavon, Casey, Shawn, Sammy, Danny, Katherine, Ryan, Melia, Amaia, and 7 great grandchildren. Interment will be in St. Joseph Cemetery, Lake City, South Dakota.
