Dewey Van Zanten

Dewey Van Zanten, 94, of Dell Rapids, formerly of Colton, died Monday, November 21, 2011 at Terrace Manor in Dell Rapids where he has been a resident since 2007.

Funeral service will be at 10:30 AM Saturday, November 26, 2011 at Faith Community Church, Colton. Burial will be in the Colton Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6-8:00 PM Friday at the church.

Dewey was born May 20, 1917 to parents Cornelius and Kate (Paauw) Van Zanten near Aurora Center, South Dakota. As a small child he moved with his parents to Grand Rapids, Michigan. At the age of 12, he moved with his family to the Colton area where he attended country school. Dewey then served in the United States Army during World War II from 1942 until his discharge in 1946.

Dewey married Gladys Feikema April 18, 1946 in Sioux Falls. After their marriage, he worked for Josten’s Concrete and John Morrell and Company, before moving to a farm southwest of Colton. In 1951 they moved to their present farm and farmed until 1981 when they retired into Colton. In October 2005 they moved to Orchard Hills in Dell Rapids. He was a member of the Faith Community Church in Colton.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Gladys, Dell Rapids; his children, Gordon (Carol) Van Zanten, Golden, Colorado; Greg (Bev) Van Zanten, Colton; twins, Marlys (Jeff) Hickox, Escondido, California and Marilyn Van Zanten, Sioux Falls; ten grandchildren; nine great grandchildren; brothers, J.W. (Barb) Van Zanten, Colton; Melvin (Jan) Van Zanten, Garden Grove, California; sisters, Alice Burgers and Nellie Burgers, both of Colton and many other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a son, Roger, a sister, Jeanette and a brother,Pierre.