Area Obituaries
William John Vreugdenhil was born on February 3,1932, to Gerrit and Nellie (Bok) Vreugdenhil on a farm north of Platte, SD in Brule County. In the mid 30’s the family moved to a farm in Douglas County. He attended the Vander Tuin and Helland rural schools. After graduating he worked on the family farm and neighboring farms.
He was inducted into the army during the Korean War. William was stationed in Germany and served from 1952-1954. When he returned home he worked on the family farm.
William was united in marriage to Albertha Beltman on November 3, 1955. They then moved to Grand Rapids, MI where William worked for a cement contractor for a year. He then took a job as a brick tender at Johnson Construction, working with four of his uncles.
In February of 1960 William and Albertha returned to South Dakota where they lived on a farm in Aurora County. In February, 1962 they purchased a farm southwest of Corsica where William and Albertha farmed and operated a dairy together until his passing.
In 1963 William began doing carpentry, cement and brickwork. His son, Max, worked with him in the early years. William and his son, Brad, worked the construction business together for over 45 years. William and Brad laid several foundations. Many fireplaces, homes, churches, storefronts and businesses in the surrounding communities were laid up with brick or stone by William and Brad over the years.
William served as an elder and deacon at New Holland Christian Reformed Church for many years, was a school board member of Dakota Christian High School and a treasurer of Iowa Township. He also helped his Uncle Teunis Vreugdenhil repair the organ in the New Holland Christian Reformed Church.
William was a devoted husband and father. He was a hard worker who loved his Lord and was a quiet man of faith. William passed away on September 3, 2024, at the Platte Healthcare Center at the age of 92.
William is survived by his wife Albertha, son Max (Marilyn) Vreugdenhil of Bradenton, FL; daughter Barbara (Ray) Van Essendelft of Pantego, NC; son Bradley Vreugdenhil of Corsica, SD; and daughter Nancy (Bruce) Spoolstra of Grand Rapids, MI; seven grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren; brother Virgil (Dorothy) Vreugdenhil of Stickney, SD; sister Bertha (Robert) Groeneweg of Anchorage, AK; brother Garry (Linda) Vreugdenhil of Concord, NC; sister-in-law Lorena Vreugdenhil; brother-in-law and sister-in-law Albert (Dolly) Beltman; sister-in-law Geneva Beltman; and several nieces and nephews.
William was preceded in death by his parents Gerrit and Nellie (Bok) Vreugdenhil, brother John and sister-in-law Helen Vreugdenhil, brother Arlow Vreugdenhil and infant sister, brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Hank and Henrietta Veurink, Orin and Frances Van Zee, Wilbur Beltman and Bob and Jean Brumbaugh.
Gifts given in memory of William can be given to The New Holland Christian Reformed Church or Dakota Christian School or a charity of your choice.
Funeral services for William Vreugdenhil age 92 of Corsica, SD, will be held at New Holland Christian Reformed Church, New Holland, SD on Thursday, September 12, 2024, at 10:30AM. Burial will follow in the New Holland Cemetery. There is a prayer service on Wednesday night at 7 PM at the church. Visitation one hour prior to the prayer service.
