Irene Van Gilder

\r Irene M. Van Gilder, age 90, Watertown, formerly of Bradley, the widow of George Van Gilder, died early Saturday morning, September 13, 2008 in the Golden Living Center at Watertown. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, September 17, 2008 at 10:30 AM in the Prairie Lakes Baptist Church at Watertown with burial following in the Prairie Hill Cemetery at Bradley. Pastor Lonnie Johnson will officiate. Music will be provided by Marvine Obermeier, Wendy Christman and congregational singing. The honorary casketbearers will be all of her nieces and nephews, the staff of the Golden Living Center in Watertown and all of Irene\'s other caregivers. Active casketbearers will be her grandchildren. Visitation will be held on Tuesday from 5-7 PM at the Furness Funeral Home in Clark and 1 hour preceding services at the Church on Wednesday. She was born Irene Mildred Barton, the daughter of Fred and Alice (McShane) Barton, on March 12, 1918 at Bradley, SD. She grew to adulthood in Clark County attending the Maydell Country School and the Thorp Consolidated School. On October 20, 1935 she was united in marriage to George W. Van Gilder at Watertown. The couple farmed near Bradley until retiring in 1975. While living on the farm she worked at the Bethesda Nursing Home in Webster and the Clark Care Center in Clark. George died on May 9, 1986. She continued living on the farm until 1999 when she moved to Watertown. While living in Bradley, Irene was involved in many community activities including the Senior Citizens Association, the Prairie Hill Cemetery Association, the Bradley American Legion Auxiliary and the Lily Hoe Downers Square Dance Club. She was a former member of the First Baptist Church in Bradley until the Church closed. She enjoyed tending to her garden, raising flowers, baking bread and canning. Another favorite pastime of hers was writing letters. She also had a special love for pets but second to none was her love of the visits from her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Among survivors are her children, Elva (Don Dunk) Bjerke of Watertown, George Jake (Sharon) Van Gilder of Sioux Falls, Walt (Judy) Van Gilder of Watertown, Irene (Ed) Koerner of Lennox, Patricia Paulson and special friend, Harlan Stevenson of Watertown, Molly (Larry) Fiksdal of East Gull Lake, MN, Fred (Pam) Van Gilder of Bradley and Nancy Lynch of Eau Claire, WI; 26 grandchildren Vickie Bjerke, Steven (Beth) Bjerke, Donelva (Boyd) Dunham, Bryan (Joy) Van Gilder, Blake (Shelly) Van Gilder, Allen Van Gilder, Deborah (Brian) Quinton, Taryn (Bill) Pierce, Brett Van Gilder, Wade (Melissa) Van Gilder, Ryan (Deidra) Van Gilder, Sara (Jason) Bennett, Katie (Brad) Kennett, Tonia (Robert) Whitmyre, Travis (JoAnn) Paulson, Teresa (Robb) Arnold, Tyler Paulson, Jason (Valerie) Fiksdal, Nicole Fiksdal, Evan (fianc Nicole) Fiksdal, Gannon (Brandi) Van Gilder, Dustin Van Gilder, Lucas Van Gilder, Grant Van Gilder, Lance (Iryna) Lynch and Jessica Lynch-Stevens, 34 great-grandchildren, 4 great-great grandchildren, a daughter-in-law, Mirna Van Gilder of Orting, WA and a sister-in-law, Esther Barton of Torrington, WY. Preceding her in death were her parents, husband, son, Don Van Gilder, a grandson Blair Van Gilder, a great-grandson, Tucker G. Van Gilder, a son-in-law, Don Paulson and three brothers, Arthur, Stan and Ray Barton. Services are announced by the Furness Funeral Home at Clark where you can email condolences at www.furnessfuneralhome.com \r