Funeral services for Arvid N. Raastad, age 97, of Watertown, formerly Vienna, SD, will be at 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday, March 24, 2010, in BethlehemLutheranChurch, Vienna, SD.  Rev. David Larson will officiate.  Music will be provided by Dorothy Fuller, organist, and Kyle and Char Peterson, vocalists.  Arvid passed away on Thursday, March 18, 2010, at a local care center.

     Burial will be in Pleasant Lutheran Cemetery, rural Vienna, SD.  Pallbearers will be:  Vic Raastad, Dave Cornelius, Mark Engebretson, Chris Raastad, and Richard Gustafson.

     Visitation will be at the Crawford Funeral Chapel in Watertown, SD, on Tuesday from 4 to 7 p.m. and in the church on Wednesday prior to the services.  The family is requested to meet at the church on Wednesday by 10:00 a.m. to attend a family prayer service. 

     Arvid was born on December 3, 1912, in Honefoss, Norway, to Andrew and Hilda (Carlson) Raastad.  He attended schools in Gascoyne, ND, and Vienna, SD.

     On December 24, 1936, Arvid married Alice Bossen at Vienna, SD.  They started farming northwest of Vienna.  In 1949, the couple moved into Vienna where Arvid owned and operated a filling station.  He started working at the elevator in Hazel, SD, and later moved into management at the elevator.  Arvid also managed elevators in Arlington and Wallace, SD, for almost thirty years.  In 1978, he retired and the couple moved to Spearfish, SD, and later moved to Watertown, SD, where he has since lived.  Alice passed away on September 27, 2008.

     Arvid was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church.  He enjoyed deer hunting, fishing, and traveling with Alice.

     He  is survived by three sons: Arlie (Joyce) Raastad of Madison, SD, Arnell (Joyce) Raastad of Watertown, SD, and David (Larisa) Raastad of Olympia, WA; one daughter, Lou Ann (Eugene) Piorkowski, of Watertown, SD; 12 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and five great-great-grandchildren.

     Arvid was preceded in death by his wife, his parents, three brothers, and two sisters.