Delvin E Horsted

Delvin E. "Del" Horsted, age 87, Willow Lake, SD died in the Good Samaritan Center at De Smet early Thursday morning, April 3, 2014. Visitation will be held on Tuesday morning from 9AM-11AM at the Grace Lutheran Church at Willow Lake. Funeral services will begin at 11AM in the Grace Lutheran Church with The Reverend Keith Garness officiating. The organist will be Rosalie Schmidt. Burial will be in the Scandinavian Cemetery northeast of Bryant. He was born Delvin Eugene Horsted on October 2, 1926 on a farm 1 ½ miles east of Erwin, SD, the first child born to Ole and Alice (Smith) Horsted. He attended and graduated eighth grade from the Cleveland #2- Martin Rovang School and then attended a year of high school at Bryant. During the winter of 1944-45 he attended the Wm. Hood Dunwood Vocational trade school in Minneapolis for 7 months where he was trained in Forging, Welding, and Metallurgy. Delvin farmed with his parents until January of 1946, at which time he began as a blacksmith apprentice for Earnest Johnson in De Smet. In August of 1946, he began managing the former James Keller Shop in De Smet with Henry Erickson, a retired blacksmith and co-owner. In 1950 he began his own Blacksmith business in De Smet and operated it until 1956 when he moved to Kansas and worked for construction and tooling companies and eventually Boeing Aircraft. While singing in a Church choir in Kansas he met Alvina Marie Mandalek and they were united in marriage on May 30, 1957. The family returned to the Willow Lake area in 1961 and purchased a 50 acre farm on the east edge of town. At this location, Del started a farm repair shop and began raising grain and cattle. In 1984 his shop burned, but with the abundance help of friends and community, they erected a wood and steel shop building, which he operated until ill health forced his retirement in 2010. Del appreciated all types of music, the radio in the shop was permanently set to classical stations. However, he also loved old time music and dancing to the Polka, Waltz, Schottische, and Two Step. He especially loved his customer clientele, and took great pride in renovating and rebuilding their parts and equipment. He will long be remembered for his love of community, family, friends, Church and his work. He was a member of the Lutheran faith; and was deeply devoted to his vocation throughout his life. Preceding him in death were his parents, wife Alvina in March of 2013 and two brothers. Delvin is survived by his son David (Judy) Horsted of Vancouver, WA, brothers, Burton (Gladys) Horsted of Sioux Falls and Darrel of San Francisco, numerous nieces and nephews. Furness Funeral Home of Clark is serving the family where there is an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com