Dempster, Darrel W., Sr. 1925-2005

DEMPSTER, BURRILL

Posted By: Lin Ziemann (email)
Date: 4/18/2005 at 13:26:45

Darrel W. Dempster Sr., 79, of Le Mars, died Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2005, at his residence with his family at his side following a lengthy illness.

Darrel Wayne Dempster was born Jan. 23, 1925, on a farm in Union Township, Plymouth County, the son of Henry and Mary Faye (Burrill) Dempster. He grew up in Union Township and graduated from Union Township High School.

Darrel was united in marriage to Margie Linderer on Nov. 5, 1944. The couple made their home on the farm in Union Township. The family moved to Kingsley, where Darrel worked as an electrician and a television repairman at Knowles and Clark. They returned to the farm for a few years before moving to Le Mars in 1978. Darrel was employed with Westmar College as an electrician for over 20 years. He retired and remained in Le Mars with his wife, Margie. She died on June 28, 2000.

He was a member of the Union Township Presbyterian Church. In his spare time, Darrel loved to spend time with his family, especially his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was a master gardener, loved bird watching, camping, fishing and listening to country music. In recent years he enjoyed rock-hunting trips with his children.

Survivors include two sons, Gary of Chicago, Ill., and Darrel Jr. of Le Mars; two daughters, Linda Becker and her husband, Kenneth, and Helen Fischer and her husband, David, all of Le Mars; a daughter-in-law, Pat Dempster Harms of Sioux City; 11 grandchildren Gary Thomas Dempster of Illinois, Jeremy Dempster and his wife, Joy of Chicago, Ill., Tim Dempster of Waterloo, Becky Haner and her husband, Jason of Mesa, Ariz., Kasey Becker of Kansas, Matt Fischer and his wife, Janet of Merrill, Heidi Hartman and her husband, Paul of Le Mars, Jessica Cooper and her husband, Todd of Le Mars, Jason Dempster of Le Mars, Thomas Harms and his wife, Tara of Kansas, and Cory Harms of California; 19 great-grandchildren; and a sister, Thelma Reeves of Le Mars.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife Margie, a son Thomas; and a brother, Lowell.

A Celebration of Life Service will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Mauer-Johnson Funeral Home in Le Mars. The Rev. G. Dean Goebel of the Presbyterian United Church of Christ in Le Mars will officiate. Visitation will begin at 10 a.m. Saturday at the funeral home. A luncheon will follow the service at the Mauer-Johnson Funeral Home.