To request a copy of this photo for your own personal use, please contact our state coordinator. If you are not a family member or the original photographer — please refrain from copying or distributing this photo to other websites.
Thank you for visiting the South Dakota Gravestone Photo Project. On this site you can upload gravestone photos, locate ancestors and perform genealogy research. If you have a relative buried in South Dakota, we encourage you to upload a digital image using our Submit a Photo page. Contributing to this genealogy archive helps family historians and genealogy researchers locate their relatives and complete their family tree.
Submitted: 1/9/10 • Approved: 1/10/10 • Last Updated: 8/14/15 • R37464-G0-S3
Joseph Lerdal Died Sunday Morning After Heart Attack
Joseph Lerdal, a lifelong resident of the Sherman Community, died at the farm home Sunday morning of a heart attack. He had been in his usual health up to that time; but was taken ill shortly after 3 o'clock that morning and the end came about 5 o'clock.
He was a son of the late Mr. and Mrs. A.O. Lerdal, and was born near Sherman August 28, 1885. At the time of his death, December 14, 1958, he had reached the age of 63 years 3 months and 16 days.
He grew up in the Sherman community, and after finishing high school he attended Luther College at Decorah, Iowa. He served in the army during World War I.
He was united in marriage to Ethel Lillian Berg September 16, 1921, and to this union two children were born, Lois Jean (Mrs. Robert D. Warner) of Omaha, Nebr., and Merle, living on the home place.
Joe was engaged in farming, but a number of years ago he contracted diabetes, which resulted in the amputation of one leg below the knee about eight years ago. Later the other leg had to be amputated, so for the past few years he had been unable to do anything. He spent many months in hospitals, in recent years in the Veterans Hospital in Sioux Falls. He had been getting along quite well in recent months, and the end came as a shock to everyone.
Mrs. Lerdal died April 12, 1949, and since then Jo had made his home with his son, Merle, and family, on the home farm, where he was given the best of care during the years he was incapacitated.
Mr. Lerdal was a member of the Rosendal Lutheran Church and later of First Lutheran Church in Sherman. He had been an active member of Henry G. Fix post of the American Legion and was a past commander. He was a member of Palisades Masonic Lodge in Garretson and of the Consistory and El Riad Shrine in Sioux Falls. He was a member of the Rock Minnehaha male chorus for a number of years.
Left to mourn his passing are the daughter Mrs. Robert D. Warner of Omaha, a son, Merle, at home; five grandchildren; four brothers, Olay A., Garretson, Martin, Dell Rapids, Irvin, Sherman, and Clayton Rapid City, and two sisters, Miss Marie Lerdal, Long Beach, Ca., and Mrs. Joseph E. Eitreim, Garretson. His wife, parents, two sisters and one brother preceded him in death.
Funeral services were held at 2 o'clock Wednesday afternoon at the First Lutheran Church in Sherman, conducted by the pastor Rev. W. Stangeland. Music was by a male quartet composed o Olin Opstedahl, Edward Schneider, Ordell Winterton and M. Holt. Mrs. Joan Larson was at the organ.
Burial was in the South Highland Cemetery, with military rites by members of Henry G. Fix post of the American Legion. Pall bearers were six nephews, Dean, John, Morris, Herman, Richard and Roger Lerdal.
Joe was friendly disposition, and in spite of his affliction always maintained a cheerful attitude, and enjoyed visiting with his friends. He will be missed by a large circle of friends, all of whom extend sympathy to the bereaved members of the family.
Contributed on 1/9/10 by dellsfig68
Email This Contributor
Suggest a Correction
Record #: 37464