Andrew Douglas Filholm

Andrew “Douglas/Doug/Chief” Filholm, 91, of Brookings, SD peacefully passed away on May 4, 2024, at The Neighborhoods of Brookings in Brookings, SD.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held in Brookings on June 1, at 10 a.m. at St. Thomas More Catholic Church, where Douglas was a longtime parishioner and supporter. His family will be hosting a celebration of his life at Rude’s Funeral Home on Friday, May 31, from 5 to 7 p.m.
Douglas was born Jan. 10, 1933, in White, SD. He was the fifth child born to Mads (George) and Charlotte (Smith) Filholm.
Douglas attended school in White, SD, and Brookings, SD, and eventually earned his GED through the Brookings School District. He enlisted in the US Army where he became a paratrooper and a Military Police Officer. He served his country during part of the Korean War but never was deployed as he graduated from Jump School the day the armistice was signed (July 27, 1953).
Douglas married his Valentine’s Day dance sweetheart, Sharon Ann Ruttum, on Oct. 20, 1958. at St. Thomas More in Brookings, SD. Douglas and Sharon proceeded to have 5 children from 1960 to 1966.
Douglas was a kind and caring soul. He was a generous man of service and honor. Having been concerned about small kids being driven around on “top” of a man’s car, Doug went to the police station to see if anything could be done to stop this and prevent a possible tragedy. They told him the best way to help his community and keep it safe would be to become a police officer. He asked for an application and was hired on the spot, thus beginning his 26-1/2 year career with the Brookings Police Department. He served as Police Chief for 20 years. Chief Filholm had a firm belief in right and wrong but always felt people deserved a second chance. Many situations were handled in his office instead of the courts. During his police beat days he befriended the owner of the Fixit Shop and eventually purchased this business. He would work his police duties during the days, and anytime he was needed, and then repair things that Sharon had received from customers throughout the day at the Fixit Shop. Through the Fixit Shop Douglas became a self-taught locksmith and gunsmith. He was very mechanically inclined, could fix almost anything, and believed that “if some man put this together, I can take it apart and put it back together”. The Fixit Shop also gave him the opportunity to spend time with his children and teach them about business and the importance of good work ethics. All of Doug and Sharon’s sons have careers based on their early education of locksmithing with their Dad. Between being the Police Chief and the local locksmith Doug could be called away from his family at any given time, and many times he was. Always honoring his commitment to his community and humbly fulfilling his duties regardless of the time of day or weather conditions. On many occasions a service call to unlock someone’s car would be done at no charge. Doug and Sharon also gave their children an education in farm life when they rented a small farm north of Brookings where they raised chickens, pigs, goats and sheep. Doug had actually lived on this farm when he was a child and would share his childhood memories with his children.
Chief Douglas was very proud of starting “Safety Town.” Safety town is an early childhood education program designed to introduce a variety of safety conditions to young children. Safety Town is still flourishing to this day.
After he retired from the police force, he was elected to be the Brookings Police and Fire City Commissioner. Doug did this for 6 years. So, between being an MP, a Police Officer, Chief of Police, and city commissioner, Doug served his community for nearly 35 years. Also, after retirement from the police force, he started the 2nd Hand Store. Moving his Fixit Shop into a downtown building and incorporating it with his new 2nd Hand Store. He never really retired. He worked until he just couldn’t do it anymore.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Mads (George) and Charlotte Filholm; brothers, Jim Filholm and Dave Filholm; sisters, Loretta Quinn, Genevieve Holm, and Geraldine Jensen; nine brothers-in-law, seven sisters-in-law and a daughter-in-law, Nancy Filholm.
Grateful for having shared his life, Douglas is survived by his daughter, Jacquelyn (James) McCord of Brookings, SD; four sons, Michael and Anthony Filholm of Brookings, SD, Patrick (Elizabeth) Filholm of Warner-Robins, GA and Talwin Filholm of Denver, CO; 14 grandchildren, Fabian (Lindsay) McCord, Marielle (Sean) Downes, Chaz (Karina) Filholm, Nick (Amanda) McCord, Sarah (Kyle) Maurer, Ryan (Akane) Filholm, Haley (Sean) Spencer, Mariah Filholm, Jacob Filholm, Delilah (Tomas) Filholm, Rachel (Hunter) Powell, Amy (Andy) Estes, Augustus Filholm, and George Filholm; plus 16 great-grandchildren, Sebastian, Brinley, Griffin, Weston, Gracie, Bradan, William, Reagan, Mason, Branson, Brecken, Sofia, Amelia, Maverick, Mads and Cara with 2 more great grandchildren expected to join the family in July.
Condolences may be sent to the family through www.rudesfuneralhome.com.