Dale Ferwerda, 90, of Springfield
Dale died Saturday, March 3, 2012 at Avera St. Michael's Hospital in Tyndall.
His funeral service will be 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Emmanuel Reformed Church in Springfield, with burial in the Springfield Cemetery with military honors. Visitation will be 2 p.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Home in Springfield, with the family present from 5 to 7.
Dale Oliver Ferwerda, 90, of Springfield passed away Saturday, March 3, 2012, at St. Michael's Hospital in Tyndall. Funeral services will be held Wednesday, March 7, 2012 at 1:30 p.m. at the Emmanuel Reformed Church in Springfield with burial in the Springfield Cemetery, rural Springfield. Visitation will be Tuesday, March 6, 2012 from 2 pm to 7 pm at the Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Home in Springfield with the family present from 5 to 7, which will include a devotional and prayer.
Dale was born May 9, 1921, in rural Springfield to Martin and Sarah (Oliver) Ferwerda. Dale was the oldest of ten children. He attended Hitt Country School for eight years and graduated from Springfield High School in 1939. After graduation, he went to Iowa with several other young men from the area to find work.
On October 22, 1942, Dale married Henrietta Van Roekel in Dakota City, NB. Two weeks later he entered the military service serving in the US Army. He spent 39 months as an MP attaining the rank of SGT. After discharge from the Army, Dale and Henrietta returned to Iowa to farm. Three children were born to Dale and Henrietta.
On January 26, 1946, Dale made his Profession of Faith in the First Reformed Church of Denver, CO. He has served for many years as Sunday School teacher, Trustee, and Elder in the churches he attended. He has been active in the Gideons and American Legion both in Iowa and South Dakota.
At the age of 37, Dale returned to college for two years at Northwestern Jr. College in Orange City, IA, and then attended and graduated with a B.A. from Westmar College, Lemars, IA. He taught school for several years, then returned to farming near Springfield, SD. He also enjoyed carpenter work and electrical wiring.
Dale entered the Assisted Living in Springfield in Feb, 2007, and moved to the Good Samaritan Home in Tyndall in March, 2011. He resided there until his death.
Dale is survived by his son Harlan of Springfield, daughters Donna (Dave) Koop of Rapid City and Bev (Kenn) Rupp of Springfield; four brothers, Gene of Medford, NJ, Layton (Helen) of Yankton; Alvin (Avis) of Winner; and Laddie (Mary) of Centerville SD; two sisters, Amy (Gale) Scholl, Scotland, and Carol (Jim) Lukkes of Avon, SD, 8 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and 6 great-great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife of 63 years, Henrietta, his parents, two grandsons, Kai Rupp and Wayne Koop, his daughter-in-law, Carol Ferwerda; three brothers, Arnold, Noel, and Merle, sisters-in-law Dorothy Ferwerda and Luetta Ferwerda.