Harold Boelkes

Harold Boelkes, age 83, Clark, died in Sioux Falls on July 1, 2014. Visitation will be held on Saturday, July 5, 2014 from 5-7 PM at the Furness Funeral Home Chapel at Clark and will continue after noon on Sunday in the funeral home chapel. Funeral services will be held on Sunday, July 6, 2014 at 2PM in the Furness Funeral Home Chapel at Clark with The Reverend Gary Anderson and Pastor Fawn Lamb officiating. The pianist will be Dorothy Fuller with Roger Nordhus as soloist. Active Casket-bearers will be Ken Nordhus, Tom Hallberg, Bob Schlueter, Walt & Rod Steiger, Merritt, Jr. & Mike Seefeldt, Mike Miller. Honorary Casketbearers Hilary Kraus, Earl Hanson, Howard Morrison, Pat Hurkes, Harlan Bach, Rex Gerber & Joe Tesch Burial will follow in the Rose Hill Cemetery at Clark. He was born Harold Henry Boelkes on February 8, 1931 at Willow Lake, the only child born to John and Mildred (Nuttbrock) Boelkes. He received his education at Willow Lake and Clark schools. At and early age he took over the family farm in Darlington Township, after his parents became ill. On July 12, 1952 he was united in marriage to JoAnn Krause of Summit at the Lutheran Parsonage in Clark. To this union two daughters were born, Ginny and Sheryl. He farmed the family farm in southern Darlington Township until moving into Clark in 1960. He became an independent trucker and also worked for Clark Farmers Elevator. He later drove truck for Ivan Larson and Dale Stevens until they retired. In 1977 he moved to a new farm site he purchased in northern Darlington Township, the Johnson Brothers farm, and this is where his dream became a reality. His dream was building a new farmstead and that is what he did, from sheds to a new home. Later on health issue intervened and not as much was accomplished as he wanted. The coffee pot was always on and they welcomed anyone who was there at meal time to eat with them. Some of his hobbies included going to sales, playing 2-deck pinochle and going to the casino to visit, yes visit! Harold was one of the first farmers in Darlington Township to own a semi-tractor truck with an automatic transmission, he got that so his wife could help drive! His love of the land made him a farmer thru and thru. In April of 2014 he entered Sanford USD Hospital in Sioux Falls for an infection of the spine which has plagued him for the past months. After a short stay in the Golden Living Center at Clark he re-entered the Sanford hospital three weeks ago and died peacefully with his loving family at his side on Tuesday evening, July 1, 2014. He leaves to mourn his passing his wife JoAnn, care taker for 62 years and two precious daughters, Ginny Kay (Kevin) Seybold of Grove City, PA and Sherry Lynn (Earl) Foster of Clark, he was so proud of his three grandchildren, Ryan (Ida) Foster, Jessica Foster and Adam (Kate) Seybold and his 4 great-great grandchildren, Jasmine, Brandi, Audrye and Henry. Preceding him in death were his parents. Funeral arrangements are with the Furness Funeral Home at Clark where there is an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com