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Dale H. Bludorn Sep 26 2009
Funeral services for Dale Henry Bludorn, age 84, of Henry, SD, formerly Florence, SD, will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 3, 2009, at the Watertown Christian Church (formerly called South Lake Church of Christ) in Watertown, SD. Rev. Richard Bludorn will officiate. Music will be provided by Steve Solum and Carrie Law. Dale passed away on Saturday, September 26, 2009, at his residence. Burial will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Watertown. Military graveside honors will be provided by Frank H. Adams Post #750 of Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Military Funeral Honors Team of the S.D. National Guard, both of Watertown. Honorary pallbearers will be Dale’s grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and niece, Donna Sikich. Active pallbearers will Dale’s grandsons: Dave Bludorn, Matt Bludorn, Andrew Bludorn, Jonathan Bludorn, Brad Maynard, Josh Anderson, Connor Earl, and Jamie Bludorn. Visitation will be at the Crawford Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Friday 4 to 7 p.m. and Saturday prior to services at the church. The family is requested to meet at the church on Saturday by 10:00 a.m. Dale was born July 14, 1925, at Florence, SD, to Henry and Agnes (Johnson) Bludorn. Dale grew up in Florence graduating from Florence High School in 1943. After graduating, Dale moved to St. Paul, MN, where he worked for Montgomery Ward and Brown & Bigalow before joining the U.S. Army in 1945. Dale served in the Army from 1945-1946 in Japan. After returning from duty, Dale was a bartender at the Bludorn Tavern in Florence. On July 14, 1949, Dale married Ruth Solum at Britton, SD. The couple moved to Brookings, SD, where Dale obtained his Associates Degree in Printing & Rural Journalism from South Dakota State College. From 1955 to 1983, Dale worked at various newspapers around Eastern South Dakota including the Brookings Register, the Huron Daily Plainsman, the Watertown Public Opinion, the Argus Leader, and the Modern Press. Following his retirement in 1983, Dale worked as a part-time custodian/school bus driver for the Florence School District and part-time custodian for the Watertown Rec Center. Dale was a lifelong member of the VFW and American Legion. He especially enjoyed playing cards including: pinochle, smear, solo and especially cribbage, with family and friends. Dale also enjoyed playing in the bi-annual Bludorn Family Reunion Cribbage tournament and was ‘Bludorn Cribbage Champ’ in 1991 & 1995. He was an avid Minnesota Twins fan and rarely missed a game on television. A highlight for Dale was attending Game #2 of the 1987 World Series at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, MN. Dale was affectionately known as “Doodee” by his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and daycare children. Dale is survived his wife, Ruth; four sons: Rich (Karen) Bludorn of Cincinnati, OH, Tom (Charlene) Bludorn of Watertown, SD, Larry (Jolene) Bludorn of Omaha, NE, and Jerry (Tammie) Bludorn of Webster, SD; one daughter, Cindy (Steve) Anderson, of Henry, SD; one son-in-law, Mark Maynard, of Henry, SD; 18 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; two sisters: Una Gillispie of St. Paul, MN, and Evelyn (Ron) Woitte of Watertown, SD; two sisters-in-law: Pat Bludorn of St. Paul, MN, and Rose Engen of Watertown, SD; one brother-in-law, Burdette (Phyllis) Solum, of Watertown, SD; and two sisters-in-law: Ann Aaker of Elkton, SD, and Eleanor Solum of Watertown, SD. Dale was preceded in death by one daughter, Pat Maynard, in April 2008; one grandson, Michael Bludorn; his parents; four brothers: Hershel Bludorn, Roger Bludorn, Grant “Speed” Bludorn, and Gordon “Bud” Bludorn; and one sister, Ramona Lesner.

Dale H. Bludorn
Sep 26 2009

Funeral services for Dale Henry Bludorn, age 84, of Henry, SD, formerly Florence, SD, will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, October 3, 2009, at the Watertown Christian Church (formerly called South Lake Church of Christ) in Watertown, SD. Rev. Richard Bludorn will officiate. Music will be provided by Steve Solum and Carrie Law. Dale passed away on Saturday, September 26, 2009, at his residence.

Burial will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Watertown. Military graveside honors will be provided by Frank H. Adams Post #750 of Veterans of Foreign Wars and the Military Funeral Honors Team of the S.D. National Guard, both of Watertown. Honorary pallbearers will be Dale’s grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and niece, Donna Sikich. Active pallbearers will Dale’s grandsons: Dave Bludorn, Matt Bludorn, Andrew Bludorn, Jonathan Bludorn, Brad Maynard, Josh Anderson, Connor Earl, and Jamie Bludorn.

Visitation will be at the Crawford Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Friday 4 to 7 p.m. and Saturday prior to services at the church. The family is requested to meet at the church on Saturday by 10:00 a.m.

Dale was born July 14, 1925, at Florence, SD, to Henry and Agnes (Johnson) Bludorn. Dale grew up in Florence graduating from Florence High School in 1943. After graduating, Dale moved to St. Paul, MN, where he worked for Montgomery Ward and Brown & Bigalow before joining the U.S. Army in 1945. Dale served in the Army from 1945-1946 in Japan. After returning from duty, Dale was a bartender at the Bludorn Tavern in Florence.

On July 14, 1949, Dale married Ruth Solum at Britton, SD. The couple moved to Brookings, SD, where Dale obtained his Associates Degree in Printing & Rural Journalism from South Dakota State College. From 1955 to 1983, Dale worked at various newspapers around Eastern South Dakota including the Brookings Register, the Huron Daily Plainsman, the Watertown Public Opinion, the Argus Leader, and the Modern Press. Following his retirement in 1983, Dale worked as a part-time custodian/school bus driver for the Florence School District and part-time custodian for the Watertown Rec Center.

Dale was a lifelong member of the VFW and American Legion. He especially enjoyed playing cards including: pinochle, smear, solo and especially cribbage, with family and friends. Dale also enjoyed playing in the bi-annual Bludorn Family Reunion Cribbage tournament and was ‘Bludorn Cribbage Champ’ in 1991 & 1995. He was an avid Minnesota Twins fan and rarely missed a game on television. A highlight for Dale was attending Game #2 of the 1987 World Series at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, MN. Dale was affectionately known as “Doodee” by his grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and daycare children.

Dale is survived his wife, Ruth; four sons: Rich (Karen) Bludorn of Cincinnati, OH, Tom (Charlene) Bludorn of Watertown, SD, Larry (Jolene) Bludorn of Omaha, NE, and Jerry (Tammie) Bludorn of Webster, SD; one daughter, Cindy (Steve) Anderson, of Henry, SD; one son-in-law, Mark Maynard, of Henry, SD; 18 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren; two sisters: Una Gillispie of St. Paul, MN, and Evelyn (Ron) Woitte of Watertown, SD; two sisters-in-law: Pat Bludorn of St. Paul, MN, and Rose Engen of Watertown, SD; one brother-in-law, Burdette (Phyllis) Solum, of Watertown, SD; and two sisters-in-law: Ann Aaker of Elkton, SD, and Eleanor Solum of Watertown, SD.

Dale was preceded in death by one daughter, Pat Maynard, in April 2008; one grandson, Michael Bludorn; his parents; four brothers: Hershel Bludorn, Roger Bludorn, Grant “Speed” Bludorn, and Gordon “Bud” Bludorn; and one sister, Ramona Lesner.

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