Benjamin Conrad Romsdahl

Benjamin “Ben” Romsdahl, 86, of Baltic died Wednesday, August 13, 2008 at Bethany Lutheran Home. Funeral services will begin at 11:00 AM Saturday, August 16, 2008 at Baltic Lutheran Church, Baltic. Visitation with the family present will be from 6-8:00 PM Friday at the Minnehaha Funeral Home, Baltic. Burial will be at 2:30 PM Saturday at the West Norden Lutheran Cemetery, Hayti, SD.

Benjamin “Ben” Conrad Romsdahl was born on March 11, 1922 at Brookings, South Dakota to Conrad and Hilda (Shelsta) Romsdahl. He grew up in Bryant and graduated from Bryant High School in 1940. He entered the U.S. Army Air Corp in 1943 and served until his discharge in 1945. On October 10, 1953, he married Bernetta Daganaar in Clear Lake, South Dakota. He lived in Clear Lake until moving to Baltic in 1956 to manage the Baltic Cooperative Telephone Company.

On February 11, 1983, Ben married Anna Marie Thoreson in Sioux Falls. Anna died in 1995. Ben held various other jobs until his retirement in 1987 as a parts clerk for the South Dakota Department of Transportation.

Ben was a member of the Baltic Lutheran Church where he served on the church council and the Joseph A.T. Moe American Legion in Baltic. He also served as the Mayor of Baltic.

Grateful for having shared his life are his son, Paul Romsdahl and his wife Ann, Brandon, a daughter, Debra Romsdahl, Waite Park, MN; a step son, Tom Thoreson; a step daughter, Carla Gries; three grandchildren, Mercedes Romsdahl, Erik & Dane Romsdahl; three step-grandchildren, Steve Gries, Chris Gries and Amanda Thoreson; two brothers, Harlan (Carol) Romsdahl, Grants Pass, OR; Robert Romsdahl, Hot Springs, a sister, Betty (Ervin) Krutzfeldt, Wolsey, SD. He was preceded in death by his wife, Anna; parents, two sisters, Maurine and Arlene and two brothers, Maurice and Dr. Marvin.