Bob Houtkooper, age 94, of Brookings, passed away Thursday, March 7, 2024, at the United Living Community.
Funeral services will be 1 p.m. on Saturday, March 16, 2024, at Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings with burial to follow at Bethlehem Cemetery in rural Astoria, SD. Visitation will be from 12-1 p.m. on Saturday.
Robert Dale Houtkooper was born March 19, 1929, to John and Mabel Houtkooper in Sioux City, IA. He grew up near Brandt, SD. He finished the eighth grade and then farmed with his dad and brothers. He met the love of his life, Delores Anderson, and after a long courtship they were married on June 1, 1952. They moved to Canby MN, where he took a job at the Farmers Cooperative. He started out pumping gas and then was put in charge of the hardware store. He worked in the creamery for a while, was then asked to start up their credit union, and eventually took over as general manager. While he was doing all this and raising a family, he built their house from the ground up. In 1962, he moved his family to Brookings SD, where he took a job at the Farmers Coop and ran the hardware store.
Again, while working and raising a family, he earned his GED and also took correspondence courses on electronics. He eventually became the manager of the fertilizer division and retired in 1992. He went back each spring for several years during the busy season.
Bob was a tinkerer; he could make or fix just about anything. He was happiest when he was busy with a project. When he ran out of his own projects, he would help his neighbors. Bob loved woodworking, reading, and fishing but especially enjoyed spending time with his family. Bob was a conversationalist; he could strike up a conversation with anyone and usually did. Little kids were especially drawn to him, whether it was his own grandkids, great-grandkids, or kids from the neighborhood. He seemed to always make a special connection with whoever he met.
Survivors include sons, Dale (Jackie) Houtkooper of Lewisburg, TN, and Paul (Susan) Houtkooper of Highland, NY; daughter Julie (Bob) Golden of Woodbury, MN; grandchildren, Olivia (Thomas) Bartholow, Colin (Leah) Golden, Max Golden and fiancée Brittany Heilman; great-grandsons, Cooper and Danny Bartholow, great-granddaughter Mila Golden. Brother Don Houtkooper and sister Carol (Jerry) Henneman.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Delores Houtkooper, brothers Glenn Houtkooper, and Clifford Houtkooper.
