Fred R Van Gilder

Fred R. Van Gilder, age 65, Watertown, died on Thursday evening, October 26, 2017 in a Watertown hospital.

A memorial visitation will be held on Friday, November 3, 2017 from 5-7PM at the Furness Funeral Home at Clark.

Memorial Services will be held on Saturday, November 4, 2017 at 11AM in the St. John's Lutheran Church at Bradley with Minister Marion Grimes officiating.  Susan Olson will be the pianist with Dave & Carol Finstad providing special music.  Burial will be private.

He was born Fred R. Van Gilder on June 16, 1952 at Webster, SD, the son of George and Irene (Barton) Van Gilder.  Fred attended school at Bradley graduating in 1970.  Following high school he attended South Dakota State University at Brookings.

On June 14, 1974 he was united in marriage to Pam Obermeier at the Crocker Lutheran Church at Crocker.  Fred worked as the Business Manager for the Bradley School District and then at Citizens Insurance Agency at Bradley.  He later worked as a farmhand for Harland Hagen near Bradley.  In 1976 the couple purchased a farm from Russell Neal where they lived and farmed until moving into Watertown on November 15, 2012.  While living in Watertown, Fred continued making many trips to the farm.  He had Roger Jankord restore his Dad's 1952, original purchase, John Deere "A" tractor.  Fred liked to hunt pheasant and deer, and fish.

Some of the things he enjoyed most in life were going to farm sales, auction sales, and to the sale barn.  He went to many threshing bees over the years and liked driving around the countryside, checking out the crops.  While his boys were in school, he thoroughly loved being a vocal spectator!  When grandkids came into the picture, he would spend time with them in the pumpkin patch.  Fred also enjoyed spending time at Dakota Sioux Casino & McDonalds at Watertown.

Preceding him in death were his parents, brothers, George "Jake", Donald, and Walt Van Gilder, a grandson, Tucker Van Gilder, and brothers-in-law, Donald Paulson and Larry Fiksdal.

Survivors include his wife, Pam of Watertown, sons, Gannon (Brandi) Van Gilder of Jamestown, ND, Dustin Van Gilder of Bradley, Lucas (Sara) Van Gilder of Elburn, IL, and Grant Van Gilder of Crocker; 5 grandchildren, Xaina, Sutton, Gradee, Turner, and Teagan; Sisters:  Elva (Don "Dunk") Bjerke, of Watertown,  Irene (Ed) Koerner of Lennox, Pat (Jerry) Caulfield of Watertown, Molly Fiksdal of East Gull Lake, MN, and Nancy Van Gilder of Eau Claire, WI.  He also leaves sisters-in-law, Sharon Van Gilder of Sioux Falls, Mirna Van Gilder of Orting, WA, and Judy (Rick) Aslesen of Ortley.

Funeral arrangements are with the Furness Funeral Home at Clark where there is an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com