LeRoi “Bill” Van Erdewyk, age 86, of Brandt, SD, passed away on Thursday, April 18, 2024 at the Hendricks Community Hospital in Hendricks, MN. Memorial Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 27, at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Clear Lake, SD. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service at the church. Burial will follow at the Lakeview Cemetery in Clear Lake with military honors. Houseman Funeral Home of Clear Lake, SD is entrusted with the arrangements.
LeRoi Clemmens Van Erdewyk was born at home on the family farm near Ashton, Iowa on Feb. 23, 1938, to Frederick and Tina (Eidem) Van Erdewyk. The family moved south of Clear Lake and then a few years later moved to the farm near Brandt, South Dakota in 1950. LeRoi attended Cloverdale Elementary School and then graduated from Brandt High School in 1956. After graduation, LeRoi farmed with his father until his father passed away. He then took over the family farm and took care of his mother. LeRoi proudly served his country in the Army National Guard.
LeRoi thoroughly enjoyed the life of being a farmer from tending to the livestock and the crops and in later years devoting his time to growing a bountiful garden to share with friends and family. He also enjoyed taking bus trips to Deadwood, SD with friends and family. Having coffee at the Brandt Café Monday through Saturday was always something that he looked forward to and enjoyed.
He was a member of St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Clear Lake and the Peden-Cole American Legion in Gary, SD.
Survivors include one brother, Zeno Van Erdewyk of Madison, SD, and one sister, Sylvia Rickard of Brookings, SD; one sister-in-law, Ellen Van Erdewyk of Hendricks, MN, and numerous nieces and nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Tina Van Erdewyk; brother, Vernard Van Erdewyk; sister-in-law, Carol Van Erdewyk; brother-in-law, Robert Rickard; nephews, Larry Rickard and Kevin Van Erdewyk and great-nephews, Matthew Rickard and Andrew Rickard.
