Edwin P. Siemonsma

Edwin P. Siemonsma, 58, of Rapid City, formerly of Sioux Falls passed away unexpectedly Tuesday, Jan. 8, 2008 in Black River Falls, WI.

Funeral services will begin at 10:00 am Saturday, Jan. 12, 2008 at West Nidaros Lutheran Church, rural Crooks. Burial with Military Honors will be in the Pioneer Cemetery, rural Baltic.

Visitation will begin at 3:00 pm with the family present from 5:00 to 7:00 pm Friday at the Minnehaha Funeral Home in Baltic.

Edwin Peter Siemonsma was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on May 26, 1949 to Joseph and Emma (Kavonda) Siemonsma. One of seven siblings, he graduated from Baltic High School in 1967 and joined the US Navy in the fall. He served four years as a Machinist on the USS Spadefish, traveling around the world. He then served in the Naval Reserves for two years. After his military service, he returned to Sioux Falls and began his lifelong sales career with Billion Motors.

In 1996, he moved to Rapid City, where he continued his sales career and met his significant other, Jean Konotopka. Ed pursued his love of driving and traveling by switching careers as an over the road truck driver. He was employed by Lloyd Bultsma Trucking which helped him pursue his other love: spending time with and spoiling his kids and grandkids.

Ed was an avid collector of many fine arts. He loved to fish and hunt with his kids and family, especially Ralph and Dick. He enjoyed photography, telling stories, and working with his hands, both fixing things and creatively engineering things.

Grateful for having shared his life are his children, Michelle and her husband Mike Eggers, Sioux Falls; Jon Siemonsma and his wife Lisa, Sioux Falls; Rahn Siemonsma and special friend, Jessica; Renner; Anthony Siemonsma and his wife Kendra, Sioux Falls; Juliann and her husband Andrew Johnson, Sioux Falls; grandchildren, Sydney; Thomas; Adam; Amanda; Sophia; Jacob; Jeffrey; Gavin; Kaedan; special friend, Jean Konotopka, Martin, SD; mother, Emma Siemonsma, Sioux Falls; brothers, Daniel Siemonsma and his wife Joanne, Renner; Lloyd Siemonsma and his wife Sue, Sioux Falls; Ralph Siemonsma and his wife Debbie, Spearfish; sisters, Mildred and her husband Richard Schmidt, Trent; Eva Siemonsma and special friend Kevin Atwater, Loveland, CO; Anna Mae and her husband Joe Rauscher, Sioux Falls; and numerous other relatives and friends.

Ed was preceded in death by his father, Joseph and grandmother, Anna Kavonda.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the family.