Homer Mydland

Services for Homer Mydland, 87, of Groton will be 10:30 a.m., Saturday, December 19th at Emmanuel Lutheran Church, Groton. Pastor Elizabeth Johnson will officiate. Burial with military honors will follow in Union Cemetery, Groton under the direction of Paetznick-Garness Funeral Chapel, Groton.

Visitation will be held at the chapel from 4-8 p.m. on Friday with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m.

Homer passed away December 16, 2009 at Avera St. Luke's Hospital in Aberdeen. Homer Clayton Mydland was born on November 26,1922 in rural Pierpont to Lars T. and Serine (Skaare) Mydland. He attended school in Pierpont and Roslyn. Homer enlisted in the US Navy in March of 1943, serving in the Aleutian Islands during WWII. For his service, he received a Purple Heart. After his discharge in March of 1946, he moved to Seattle, Washington, where he joined family and community members from the Roslyn, Britton and Pierpont area.

On March 1, 1952, he united in marriage with Marion Tom Gentry in Seattle, Washington. The couple made their home there for several years before moving to Groton in 1959. Homer owned and operated Pilgrim Cleaners in Groton, Webster and Redfield. After many years in the dry cleaning business, Homer became a representative for Lutheran Brotherhood Insurance and retired in 1989.

As a member of the Groton community, Homer was on the building committee for the Groton nursing home and served on the Groton City Council. He was a member of the Groton Kiwanis Club and Groton Legion Post #39. Homer was a devoted member of Emmanuel Lutheran Church. He served his church community in everything from sitting on the church council to singing in the choir to custodial duties.

Homer's life was marked by his faith in God, his love of family, service to his community and creating beautiful things with his hands. He spent many hours digging in his garden, woodworking, feeding the neighborhood birds, and making lefse. Homer's wonderful sense of humor brought joy to his family, friends and strangers alike.

Grateful for having shared in his life are his wife, Marion; their four children, Merrye (Simon) Franco of McKinney, TX; Raymond Joseph, III (Jean) Gentry of Brookings; Renee (Bob) Swisher of Groton; Jill (Michael) Zimmer of Downington, PA; one sister, Ione Connaughton of Vancouver, WA; ten grandchildren, Christopher (Carrie) Dalluge, Jeremy (Laure) Dalluge, Raymond IV (Sara) Gentry, Olivia (Matt) Lefers, Serine Gentry, Lindsey (Tom) Tietz, Erica (Aaron) Roberts, Travis Swisher, Joshua (Jennifer) Zimmer and Zachary Zimmer. Homer was also blessed with nine great-grandchildren, Alexandra & Dawson Dalluge, Jack & Megan Dalluge, Elise & Shae Lefers, Lane Yoder, McKenna Tietz and Piper Zimmer.

Preceding him in death were his parents, two sisters, Ruth Strand and Dorothy Waters; and two brothers, Irvin Mydland and Luther Mydland.

Pallbearers will be Raymond Gentry, Travis Swisher, Jeremy Dalluge, Matt Lefers, Tom Tietz, Rodney Strand, Christopher Dalluge, Joshua Zimmer, Zachary Zimmer and Aaron Roberts.

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