Willis Van Keukelom | 1934 - 2023
Obituaries-Mobridge / Posted Sep 30, 2023 | 11:28 AM / 246 views
Funeral services for Willis Van Heukelom, 89, of Herreid will be at 10:30 AM, Tuesday, October 3, 2023 at the Herreid Baptist Church in Herreid. Burial will be at Fairview Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. Visitation will be one hour prior to services.
Willis Van Heukelom passed away peacefully September 29 at CHI St. Alexis hospital in Bismarck, ND.
Willis was born in Linton ND on August 12, 1934 to Dick and Molly Van Heukelom. Willis was the fourth child in a family of 11.
Willis spent his childhood years on the family farm near Hull, ND. Willis served in the US Army as an Infantryman in Korea from 1954-1956. Upon his Honorable discharge from the US Army, Willis worked for farmers in the Herreid and Westfield/Hull area until joining Huber & Son in Herreid. Willis then served as the Lead Maintenance Man for the City of Herreid until his retirement in 2001. Retirement didn’t stop Willis from working and he spent many years hauling for the Rueb Brothers, and continued on a part-time basis for the city with snow removal, cemetery and Park upkeep and anything else the city needed assistance with until 2021.
Willis married Dianne Ackerman on September 3, 1961 in the Herreid Baptist church. Dianne passed away October 23, 2005. Dianne and Willis owned and operated the D&W Drive-In in Herreid for a number of years in the 70’s, 80’ and 90’s.
Willis was a loving, caring, kind and generous Father and Papa to his grand and great-grandchildren.
Willis is survived by his children Kristi Binde (Jeff) of Watertown, SD and Steve (Teresa) of Greenville, NC and by grandchildren, Alison Hakenson, Tea, SD; Kelsey York (Kris), Canton, SD; Jesse Mitzel (Ciara) Gilbert, AZ; Dylan Mitzel (Paige), Watertown, SD; Carley Binde, Aberdeen, SD; Sam Van Heukelom (Michaela), Charlotte, NC; and Justin Van Heukelom, Gainesville, FL. Great-grandchildren, Jayla and Jori York, Hayden, Harris and Hadley Hakenson; sister, Elizabeth Dykema (Brian), brothers Jerome (Beryl),
Leroy, and Roger (Glori), and many nieces and nephews.
Willis is preceded in death by his wife Dianne in 2005, one infant son in 1972, parents Dick and Molly Van Heukelom, his in-laws Reinhart and Meta Ackerman, brothers Bernice (Jeanette), Glen (Bertha), Gerald (Ardyth) and sisters Katherine (Odvell) Lovo, Loretta (Laverne) Compaan, Pearl (Dennis) Miller, Judy Van Heukelom and Louis Dykema. Brothers and sisters-in Warren (Arlys) and Maynard (Bobbie) Ackerman.