Arlen Berwald, 82, of Toronto, South Dakota, passed away on Friday, September 13 at home surrounded by his wife and all five children who loved him deeply.
Born on December 13, 1930 in Big Stone City and raised near Summit, South Dakota, Arlen was the third of nine children born to Ernest and Evelyn (Schmidt) Berwald. Arlen attended Spring Grove #3 country school through the eighth grade and helped his father with his carpentry business and family farm. In 1943 at age 13, Arlen got his start as a dairyman with the purchase of his first cow at an auction sale for $80.
In 1951 Arlen was drafted into the US Army and proudly served two years as a crane operator on a supply line in the Korean War. After returning home, Arlen bought a farm near Summit and built a house, shed, and barn in establishing his dairy operation. In 1957 he married Eunice Backman from Wilmot and together they were blessed with five children. In 1970 he moved his family to the current farm site located six miles east of Estelline. The milking herd grew from forty-four registered Holsteins to a peak of 1000 under the partnership of his sons.
Through the years Arlen was a recognized farmer and respected neighbor. His was the first herd in South Dakota to attain a 20,000 pound average and for ten consecutive years was the state's Dairy Herd Improvement Association's top herd. In 1990 South Dakota State University honored him with the "Eminent Farmer Award." He also served on the boards of Grange Township and Farmers State Bank in Estelline, represented South Dakota as a delegate to the Dairy Herd Improvement Association national convention, served with the American Legion Post 184 in Estelline, and often hosted area dairy judging schools and farm tours.
Arlen loved fishing, hunting, and playing cards with family and friends. He was also active in his Christian faith upon confirmation at age sixteen at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Waubay, SD. He attended Bethel Baptist Church in Brookings and was baptized on August 21, 2010 in Lake Madison with his wife and a granddaughter.
Arlen was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Evelyn Berwald, siblings Elaine Hagen, Lavina Payne, Marion (Swayze) Bybee, Allen Berwald, and Diana Dickerson, and brothers-in-law Orville Hagen, Merle Payne, and Kenneth Kruse.
He is survived by his wife of fifty-five years, Eunice; siblings Caroline (Wayne) Doop of Brookings, Lorraine Kruse of Naperville, Illinois, and Gordon Berwald of Summit; children Calvin (Sara) Berwald of Letcher, Mike (Kim) Berwald of Toronto, Lisa (Bill) Abeler of Upsala, Minnesota, Rita (Eli) Hofer of Bruce, and Sheila (John) Gross of Madison, fifteen grandchildren, and five great grandchildren.
A memorial service celebrating the life of Arlen Berwald will be held on Thursday, September 19, 2013 at 11:00 AM at Bethel Baptist Church in Brookings. Visitation will be at the church on Wednesday from 5:00 - 7:00 PM with a prayer service at 7:00 pm and visitation one hour before the service on Wednesday. Memorials may be directed to Bethel Baptist Church or American Legion Post 184 – Estelline.
Born on December 13, 1930 in Big Stone City and raised near Summit, South Dakota, Arlen was the third of nine children born to Ernest and Evelyn (Schmidt) Berwald. Arlen attended Spring Grove #3 country school through the eighth grade and helped his father with his carpentry business and family farm. In 1943 at age 13, Arlen got his start as a dairyman with the purchase of his first cow at an auction sale for $80.
In 1951 Arlen was drafted into the US Army and proudly served two years as a crane operator on a supply line in the Korean War. After returning home, Arlen bought a farm near Summit and built a house, shed, and barn in establishing his dairy operation. In 1957 he married Eunice Backman from Wilmot and together they were blessed with five children. In 1970 he moved his family to the current farm site located six miles east of Estelline. The milking herd grew from forty-four registered Holsteins to a peak of 1000 under the partnership of his sons.
Through the years Arlen was a recognized farmer and respected neighbor. His was the first herd in South Dakota to attain a 20,000 pound average and for ten consecutive years was the state's Dairy Herd Improvement Association's top herd. In 1990 South Dakota State University honored him with the "Eminent Farmer Award." He also served on the boards of Grange Township and Farmers State Bank in Estelline, represented South Dakota as a delegate to the Dairy Herd Improvement Association national convention, served with the American Legion Post 184 in Estelline, and often hosted area dairy judging schools and farm tours.
Arlen loved fishing, hunting, and playing cards with family and friends. He was also active in his Christian faith upon confirmation at age sixteen at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Waubay, SD. He attended Bethel Baptist Church in Brookings and was baptized on August 21, 2010 in Lake Madison with his wife and a granddaughter.
Arlen was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Evelyn Berwald, siblings Elaine Hagen, Lavina Payne, Marion (Swayze) Bybee, Allen Berwald, and Diana Dickerson, and brothers-in-law Orville Hagen, Merle Payne, and Kenneth Kruse.
He is survived by his wife of fifty-five years, Eunice; siblings Caroline (Wayne) Doop of Brookings, Lorraine Kruse of Naperville, Illinois, and Gordon Berwald of Summit; children Calvin (Sara) Berwald of Letcher, Mike (Kim) Berwald of Toronto, Lisa (Bill) Abeler of Upsala, Minnesota, Rita (Eli) Hofer of Bruce, and Sheila (John) Gross of Madison, fifteen grandchildren, and five great grandchildren.
A memorial service celebrating the life of Arlen Berwald will be held on Thursday, September 19, 2013 at 11:00 AM at Bethel Baptist Church in Brookings. Visitation will be at the church on Wednesday from 5:00 - 7:00 PM with a prayer service at 7:00 pm and visitation one hour before the service on Wednesday. Memorials may be directed to Bethel Baptist Church or American Legion Post 184 – Estelline.
Arlen Berwald, 82, of Toronto, South Dakota, passed away on Friday, September 13 at home surrounded by his wife and all five children who loved him deeply.
Born on December 13, 1930 in Big Stone City and raised near Summit, South Dakota, Arlen was the third of nine children born to Ernest and Evelyn (Schmidt) Berwald. Arlen attended Spring Grove #3 country school through the eighth grade and helped his father with his carpentry business and family farm. In 1943 at age 13, Arlen got his start as a dairyman with the purchase of his first cow at an auction sale for $80.
In 1951 Arlen was drafted into the US Army and proudly served two years as a crane operator on a supply line in the Korean War. After returning home, Arlen bought a farm near Summit and built a house, shed, and barn in establishing his dairy operation. In 1957 he married Eunice Backman from Wilmot and together they were blessed with five children. In 1970 he moved his family to the current farm site located six miles east of Estelline. The milking herd grew from forty-four registered Holsteins to a peak of 1000 under the partnership of his sons.
Through the years Arlen was a recognized farmer and respected neighbor. His was the first herd in South Dakota to attain a 20,000 pound average and for ten consecutive years was the state's Dairy Herd Improvement Association's top herd. In 1990 South Dakota State University honored him with the "Eminent Farmer Award." He also served on the boards of Grange Township and Farmers State Bank in Estelline, represented South Dakota as a delegate to the Dairy Herd Improvement Association national convention, served with the American Legion Post 184 in Estelline, and often hosted area dairy judging schools and farm tours.
Arlen loved fishing, hunting, and playing cards with family and friends. He was also active in his Christian faith upon confirmation at age sixteen at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Waubay, SD. He attended Bethel Baptist Church in Brookings and was baptized on August 21, 2010 in Lake Madison with his wife and a granddaughter.
Arlen was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Evelyn Berwald, siblings Elaine Hagen, Lavina Payne, Marion (Swayze) Bybee, Allen Berwald, and Diana Dickerson, and brothers-in-law Orville Hagen, Merle Payne, and Kenneth Kruse.
He is survived by his wife of fifty-five years, Eunice; siblings Caroline (Wayne) Doop of Brookings, Lorraine Kruse of Naperville, Illinois, and Gordon Berwald of Summit; children Calvin (Sara) Berwald of Letcher, Mike (Kim) Berwald of Toronto, Lisa (Bill) Abeler of Upsala, Minnesota, Rita (Eli) Hofer of Bruce, and Sheila (John) Gross of Madison, fifteen grandchildren, and five great grandchildren.
A memorial service celebrating the life of Arlen Berwald will be held on Thursday, September 19, 2013 at 11:00 AM at Bethel Baptist Church in Brookings. Visitation will be at the church on Wednesday from 5:00 - 7:00 PM with a prayer service at 7:00 pm and visitation one hour before the service on Wednesday. Memorials may be directed to Bethel Baptist Church or American Legion Post 184 – Estelline.
Born on December 13, 1930 in Big Stone City and raised near Summit, South Dakota, Arlen was the third of nine children born to Ernest and Evelyn (Schmidt) Berwald. Arlen attended Spring Grove #3 country school through the eighth grade and helped his father with his carpentry business and family farm. In 1943 at age 13, Arlen got his start as a dairyman with the purchase of his first cow at an auction sale for $80.
In 1951 Arlen was drafted into the US Army and proudly served two years as a crane operator on a supply line in the Korean War. After returning home, Arlen bought a farm near Summit and built a house, shed, and barn in establishing his dairy operation. In 1957 he married Eunice Backman from Wilmot and together they were blessed with five children. In 1970 he moved his family to the current farm site located six miles east of Estelline. The milking herd grew from forty-four registered Holsteins to a peak of 1000 under the partnership of his sons.
Through the years Arlen was a recognized farmer and respected neighbor. His was the first herd in South Dakota to attain a 20,000 pound average and for ten consecutive years was the state's Dairy Herd Improvement Association's top herd. In 1990 South Dakota State University honored him with the "Eminent Farmer Award." He also served on the boards of Grange Township and Farmers State Bank in Estelline, represented South Dakota as a delegate to the Dairy Herd Improvement Association national convention, served with the American Legion Post 184 in Estelline, and often hosted area dairy judging schools and farm tours.
Arlen loved fishing, hunting, and playing cards with family and friends. He was also active in his Christian faith upon confirmation at age sixteen at Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Waubay, SD. He attended Bethel Baptist Church in Brookings and was baptized on August 21, 2010 in Lake Madison with his wife and a granddaughter.
Arlen was preceded in death by his parents, Ernest and Evelyn Berwald, siblings Elaine Hagen, Lavina Payne, Marion (Swayze) Bybee, Allen Berwald, and Diana Dickerson, and brothers-in-law Orville Hagen, Merle Payne, and Kenneth Kruse.
He is survived by his wife of fifty-five years, Eunice; siblings Caroline (Wayne) Doop of Brookings, Lorraine Kruse of Naperville, Illinois, and Gordon Berwald of Summit; children Calvin (Sara) Berwald of Letcher, Mike (Kim) Berwald of Toronto, Lisa (Bill) Abeler of Upsala, Minnesota, Rita (Eli) Hofer of Bruce, and Sheila (John) Gross of Madison, fifteen grandchildren, and five great grandchildren.
A memorial service celebrating the life of Arlen Berwald will be held on Thursday, September 19, 2013 at 11:00 AM at Bethel Baptist Church in Brookings. Visitation will be at the church on Wednesday from 5:00 - 7:00 PM with a prayer service at 7:00 pm and visitation one hour before the service on Wednesday. Memorials may be directed to Bethel Baptist Church or American Legion Post 184 – Estelline.
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Parents of Calvin, Michael, Lisa, Rita and Sheila
Married December 1, 1957
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