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Harold R. Bleeker Nov 04 1926 - Sep 12 2011
Funeral services for Harold R. Bleeker, age 84, of Watertown, SD, will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 17, 2011, at the First Presbyterian Church in Castlewood, SD. Rev. Terry Drew will officiate. Music will be provided by Marsha Kurtenbach as organist with congregational singing. Harold passed away on Monday, September 12, 2011, at his residence. Burial will be at the Castlewood Cemetery in Castlewood, SD. Honorary pallbearers will be Harold’s granddaughters: Amy Redlin, Jessica Rawlins, Michelle Brotzel, Sarah Benson, Laura Cordell, Jamie Hovitek, Jenny Walburg, and Casey Shuller, all of Watertown, SD, Vickie Bleeker and Nicole Jorgenson both of Sioux Falls, SD, Lindsey Bleeker of St. Paul, MN, Tabitha Bleeker of Mineral Wells, TX, and Samantha Bleeker of Evans, CO. Active pallbearers will be Harold’s grandsons: Michael VanDykhorst, Jason Walburg, Apollo Jorgenson, Justin Bleeker, and Bryce Bleeker, all of Watertown, SD, Scott Bleeker of Sioux Falls, SD, and Robert VanDykhorst of Brookings, SD. Visitation will be at the Crawford Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Friday from 4 to 7 p.m. and prior to services at the church on Saturday. The family is requested to meet at the church on Saturday by 10:00 a.m. for a prayer service. Harold was born on November 4, 1926, in rural Castlewood, SD, to John and Johanna (Ruesink) Bleeker. He was raised on the family farm near Castlewood and attended country school. On March 10, 1949, Harold married Ruth Walklin at the Bemis Christian Reformed Church in Bemis, SD. After their marriage, Harold worked for Cecil Wiarda for four years and then started farming on the Gilbert Fedt farm north of Castlewood. They purchased the Arey Hoftiezer farm and years later sold it and moved to Watertown because of Harold’s failing health. He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Castlewood where he served as a trustee. Harold was one of the farmers who started Sioux Rural Water and also served on the board. Harold is survived by his wife of 62 years, Ruth, and eight children: Valerie Rubio, Deb Jorgenson and special friend, Jerry Jorgenson, Bonita VanDykhorst, all of Watertown, SD, Douglas (Alynn) Bleeker, of Sioux Falls, SD, Ramona (David) Walburg, Rodney (Laurie) Bleeker, all of Watertown, SD, Gordon Bleeker and his fiancée, Kristi Green, of Scottsdale, AZ, and David Bleeker of Watertown, SD; 20 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; two brothers: Merle (Charlo) Bleeker of Clear Lake, SD, and Gaylord (Shirley) Bleeker of Watertown, SD; and two sisters: Anna Mae Hemmelman of Grand Island, NE, and Marlys (David) West of Burnsville, MN. He was preceded in death by one daughter, Lois Jean; two grandsons, Johnnie Rubio and Josh VanDykhorst; his parents, John and Johanna (Ruesink) Bleeker; one brother, Leonard Bleeker; two sisters, Agnes Greenfield and Arlene Wollmuth, and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Howard and Laura (Thune) Walklin.

Harold R. Bleeker
Nov 04 1926 - Sep 12 2011

Funeral services for Harold R. Bleeker, age 84, of Watertown, SD, will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 17, 2011, at the First Presbyterian Church in Castlewood, SD. Rev. Terry Drew will officiate. Music will be provided by Marsha Kurtenbach as organist with congregational singing. Harold passed away on Monday, September 12, 2011, at his residence.

Burial will be at the Castlewood Cemetery in Castlewood, SD. Honorary pallbearers will be Harold’s granddaughters: Amy Redlin, Jessica Rawlins, Michelle Brotzel, Sarah Benson, Laura Cordell, Jamie Hovitek, Jenny Walburg, and Casey Shuller, all of Watertown, SD, Vickie Bleeker and Nicole Jorgenson both of Sioux Falls, SD, Lindsey Bleeker of St. Paul, MN, Tabitha Bleeker of Mineral Wells, TX, and Samantha Bleeker of Evans, CO. Active pallbearers will be Harold’s grandsons: Michael VanDykhorst, Jason Walburg, Apollo Jorgenson, Justin Bleeker, and Bryce Bleeker, all of Watertown, SD, Scott Bleeker of Sioux Falls, SD, and Robert VanDykhorst of Brookings, SD.

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

Harold was born on November 4, 1926, in rural Castlewood, SD, to John and Johanna (Ruesink) Bleeker. He was raised on the family farm near Castlewood and attended country school.

On March 10, 1949, Harold married Ruth Walklin at the Bemis Christian Reformed Church in Bemis, SD. After their marriage, Harold worked for Cecil Wiarda for four years and then started farming on the Gilbert Fedt farm north of Castlewood. They purchased the Arey Hoftiezer farm and years later sold it and moved to Watertown because of Harold’s failing health.

He was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Castlewood where he served as a trustee. Harold was one of the farmers who started Sioux Rural Water and also served on the board.

Harold is survived by his wife of 62 years, Ruth, and eight children: Valerie Rubio, Deb Jorgenson and special friend, Jerry Jorgenson, Bonita VanDykhorst, all of Watertown, SD, Douglas (Alynn) Bleeker, of Sioux Falls, SD, Ramona (David) Walburg, Rodney (Laurie) Bleeker, all of Watertown, SD, Gordon Bleeker and his fiancée, Kristi Green, of Scottsdale, AZ, and David Bleeker of Watertown, SD; 20 grandchildren; 24 great-grandchildren; two brothers: Merle (Charlo) Bleeker of Clear Lake, SD, and Gaylord (Shirley) Bleeker of Watertown, SD; and two sisters: Anna Mae Hemmelman of Grand Island, NE, and Marlys (David) West of Burnsville, MN.

He was preceded in death by one daughter, Lois Jean; two grandsons, Johnnie Rubio and Josh VanDykhorst; his parents, John and Johanna (Ruesink) Bleeker; one brother, Leonard Bleeker; two sisters, Agnes Greenfield and Arlene Wollmuth, and father-in-law and mother-in-law, Howard and Laura (Thune) Walklin.

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Comment posted by: Carol Scott Campbell
Wed 14th Sep 2011 06:41 am

You are all in our thoughts and prayers as you go through this difficult time in your life. No one can "prepare" for the loss of a loved one, no matter what the circumstances are, but know that Harold is in a better place where he no longer suffers and will be waiting some day to see you again.

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