Donald Thaden

Donald Thaden, age 94, of Sheldon, Iowa, formerly of Huron, South Dakota, passed away on Wednesday, November 8, 2017 at Sanford Sheldon Senior Care in Sheldon. Memorial Services will be Monday, November 13, 2017 at 10:30 A.M. at the Bethesda Church of Huron, South Dakota. Rev. Roy Burket officiating. Burial to follow at Rest Haven Memorial Garden Cemetery in Huron. Visitation will be Sunday, November 12, from 3:00 to 7:00 P.M. with the family present from 5:00 to 7:00 P.M. at Kuhler Funeral Home, located at 1360 Dakota Avenue in Huron, South Dakota. Donald Robert Thaden was born April 7, 1923 at Willow Lake, SD to William and Grace (Hassebroek) Thaden. He passed away November 8, 2017 at Sanford Senior Care in Sheldon, IA living to the age of 94 years and 7 months. At the age of 6 Don's family moved to a farm near Bancroft, SD. Don attended a one room country school until 8th grade, and then attended Bancroft High School where he graduated. After high school, Don farmed with his dad and then was called into the U.S. Army during World War II serving for eighteen months in the military police. Don married Ruth Hofer in 1947 and together they continued farming in the Bancroft area. Don and Ruth were blessed with three children, David, Thomas, and Roxene. While farming Don was active in the community serving as a 4-H leader, assisting with 4-H projects, and serving on the Bancroft School Board as well as the Kingsbury County Fair board. While farming, Don was selected to be a SD Master Pork Producer. Later the family moved first to De Smet, SD, where Don served as Director of Equalization and later to Huron, SD where Don served as the City Assessor. Don and Ruth became members of the Bethesda Church in Huron in 1979. Don's church family was very important to him. Don served on the church board for many years and also sang in the choir. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife of forty-eight years Ruth, his daughter Roxene, his brother and sister-in-law James and Lois, as well as his sister Lois. Grateful for having shared his life are his two sons, David Thaden of Paradise, TX, and Tom Thaden and wife Juanita of Sheldon, IA, a son-in-law, Mark Joneson of Rapid City, SD, a brother-in-law Don Gilbert of Sioux Falls, SD and numerous grandchildren and great grandchildren as well as nieces and nephews.