Obituary of Glenn Halverson

Glenn Halverson, age 75 of Yankton, SD passed away late Monday, January 11, 2016 at the Scotland Good Samaritan Center, Scotland, SD. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM, Saturday, January 16, 2016 at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Chapel, Yankton, SD with Rev. Michael Schmitz officiating. Burial will be in the St. Rose of Lima Catholic Cemetery, Crofton, NE at approximately 1:15 PM, Saturday afternoon. Visitations will begin at 5:00 PM, Friday, January 15, 2016 at the Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home & Crematory, Yankton, SD with a Wake service at 7:00 PM. Visitations will resume one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Pallbearers are: Dan Hacecky, Jacob Hacecky, Dave Hacecky, Tyler Hacecky, Terry Frick, Adam Lange and Landon Mudder. Honorary Pallbearers will be his granddaughters: Diandra Diede, Karlin Diede, Alyssa Lange, Marissa Diede, Allison Lange and Madilyn Mudder. Glenn Norris Halverson was born on February 29, 1940, to Raymond and Ida (Skov) Halverson in rural Irene, SD. As a boy, he moved with his family to a farm in rural Yankton. Glenn attended Prairie School No. 9 and was a 1958 graduate of Yankton High School, where he concentrated his studies on football. As a lineman for the Yankton Bucks, Glenn wore #24 proudly. He received Most Valuable Player honors in 1957 and gained the nicknames "Dirty Halvy" and "Dirty Glennie" which stuck for life. He enrolled at Yankton College to play football, was named leading tackler in 1960 and even earned his bachelor's degree while there. He loved to tell stories, especially one where the YC president asked him what he had really learned while at college. True to his sense of humor and mischief, Glenn's response was - the shortest path from campus to the Ice House. After college, Glenn began working for Clem's Tire Service. He was employed there for nearly 20 years in farm service fixing tractor tires. He married Ann Hofmaier, the love of his life, on August 8, 1964, at St. Rose of Lima Catholic Church in Crofton, NE. They began their married life in Yankton and welcomed three daughters to the family. Several years later, Glenn bought a farm place near his parents and built their home with the assistance of many friends, family members and neighbors. During his life, Glenn wore many hats. They ranged from that of a football player, farmer, volunteer fireman and shade-tree mechanic, to that of a loving husband, father, grandfather and great-grandfather. Of course, there were others - an assortment of promotional caps, his brown hunting hats which he liked to place on his grandchildren's heads and even a Green Bay Packers hat he recently acquired. Glenn and Ann were known for raising a large garden, which they loved to share with others. He raised a few cattle and farmed some of the acres on the place early on. However, he is probably better known for having Black Lab dogs, a few "watch" horses and flocks of turkeys and Bantam chickens. His favorite pastime was going to farm sales and auctions in search of antiques, lamps and other "treasures." Glenn and Ann raised three daughters and have always taken great pride in their accomplishments. When grandchildren arrived, he welcomed every opportunity to spoil them and to teach them about farm life, gardening, tinkering and which of Ann's flowers not to pick. Though he didn't have as much time to spend with his great-grandchildren, he couldn't have loved them more. Throughout Glenn's life, he and Ann considered themselves fortunate to live in an area filled with caring neighbors, who were willing to lend a hand or let him hang out with them when he no longer farmed himself. Though his memory was fading, he and Ann were truly touched by the abundance of greetings they received when they celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2014. Glenn enjoyed being a Leap Year baby and often sneaked the number 29 on February calendar pages to try to fool his grandchildren. He would have celebrated his 19th birthday next month. Glenn is survived by his wife, Ann, of 51 years; three daughters: Lisa of Yankton, SD, Cindy (Jonathan) Lange of Yankton, SD, Brenda (Larry) Mudder of Avon, SD; eight grandchildren: Diandra, Karlin, Marissa, Madilyn, Landon, Alyssa, Adam and Allison; two great-grandchildren, Kaelor and Tatum; three brothers: Ray (Sue) Petersen of Daytona Beach, FL, Keith (Caroline) Halverson of Sioux Falls, SD and Derald Halverson of Casa Grande, AZ; two sisters, Charlene (George) Wright of Sioux Falls, SD and Darlis (Tom) Pokela of Sioux Falls, SD; one sister-in-law, Alice Petersen of Bellevue, NE and many nieces and nephews. Other survivors include his dear friends, neighbors, teammates and co-workers. He loved sharing time and stories with everyone, whether it was on the football field, on the farm, on the job, along the fence at a Bucks football game or somewhere else enjoying a "cold one" or a cup of coffee. Glenn was preceded in death by his parents; an infant sister, Gertrude and two brothers, Clare Petersen and Frendy Petersen.