Alvin Charles Scherbert

Mr. Alvin C. Scherbert, age 79 of Willow Lake, SD. died in the Veterans Affairs Hospital in Sioux Falls late Friday afternoon, September 26, 2008. Funeral services will be held on Friday, October 3, 2008 at 10:30 AM in the United Presbyterian Church at Willow Lake with the Reverend Marjie Brewton officiating. Jody Symens will be the organist and Troy A. Warner will sing "Amazing Grace" There will also be congregational singing. Casketbearers will be Troy D. and Troy A. Warner, Al Hamre and Rod Valentine. Burial with military honors provided by the Johnny-Fonken American Legion Post #113 will be held in the Collins Cemetery. Visitation will be held 2 hours preceding services at the Church on Friday morning. He was born on August 5, 1929 at Los Angeles, CA, the son of Frank & Tillie (Baker) Scherbert. He attended school in the Los Angeles area. He enlisted in 1950 in the US Army and served his country in Korea, the 29th Infantry Division for over two years and later that company went to Okinawa. On December 13, 1955 he was united in marriage to Sandra Evelynn 'Eva' Utley in Tijuana, Baja, Mexico. At a young age he began work for Anchor-Hocking in Los Angeles as a machine operator. Even when he was not actually employed by Anchor-Hocking, he continued to pay his union dues so that it would count towards his years of service. He left that company for a period of time, first working as a lineman on the High Power lines for Pacific Gas & Electric in northern California. He continued working in northern California for a period of years eventually working as a logger where he became a member of the International Woodworkers Assn. He once made the comment 'that was the most enjoyable work I ever done'. When the logging industry entered some bad times in the late 70's, he returned to his position at Anchor-Hocking and after some time, took an early retirement with some 20 years of service. The couple had been living in the Los Angeles area until his retirement at which time they moved to Mohave, CA and began raising and showing pure bred goats. On a trip to the eastern part of the United States to show goats, he and his wife Eva traveled through South Dakota and really liked what they saw. They returned to California, bought a piece of property at Willow Lake and moved, including their goats. He continued raising and showing goats for many years while living at Willow Lake. Eva had said before her death in 2001 that living in Willow Lake was the best of all their married years. His love of animals, the outdoors and his free spirit was something he will long be remembered for. He enjoyed going fishing with Eva and loved working with his hands doing woodwork, even building a new deck on his home only 2 years ago. Survivors include nephews, John of Henderson, NV, Rodney of Pulaski, NY and Gary of Chico, CA and nieces, Rosalie of Richfield, UT and Patricia of Action, CA and many great-nieces and nephews. Also surviving him are his dear friends and caregivers, Troy and Margaret Warner and family of Willow Lake. Arrangements are announced by the Furness Funeral Home at Clark where you can sign an on-line condolence at www.furnessfuneralhome.com