Dennis Duane VELDHOUSE

VELDHOUSE, BENSON, SCHMITZ, PAPKE, HENRICHS

Posted By: Sarah Thorson Little (email)
Date: 2/17/2017 at 00:47:14

September 21, 1945 ----- February 4, 2017

Dennis Veldhouse, age 71, of Herman, Minnesota passed away Saturday, February 4, 2017 at his residence in Herman. Funeral Services will be held Friday, February 10, 2017 at 3:00 p.m. at the Bainbridge Funeral Home in Herman with Rev. Tim Shekleton officiating. Visitation will be held Friday afternoon from 1:00 p.m. until service time. A private family burial will take place at a later date. Military Rites will be provided by the Herman American Legion Post #378.

Dennis Veldhouse was born to Duane and Ardelle (Benson) Veldhouse on September 21, 1945 in Belmond, IA. He attended elementary and high school in Kanawha, IA until the family moved to Norcross, MN in 1962. He became the president of his senior class and graduated from Herman High School in 1963. Upon graduating high school, Dennis attended NDSU for Mathematics and Engineering until 1966 when he enlisted in the United States Air Force. While in the service, he was stationed at Diego Garcia and flew as an Air Crew Medic on B-52s to Vietnam. He was also stationed in Goose Bay, NL, Canada, where he coached pee-wee football, and in Minot, ND where he flew in UH-1N Hueys, B-52s, and KC-135 refuelers. He was honorably discharged in 1970 as a Staff Sergeant.

He returned to Herman where he worked for Blume Equipment and was the Commander of the Herman Legion, where he was instrumental in starting the Johnny Holm street dance era.

He met Mary Schmitz in 1976, and they were married in 1980. Their daughter Samantha was born in 1984. In 1986, they relocated just outside of Cooperstown, ND and had their second child, Ian, in 1987. While residing in Cooperstown Dennis worked at the John Deere Implement and eventually at Fetting's Top Taste in Finley, ND until he and Mary divorced in 1996. Dennis returned to Herman where he lived out the rest of his life with his fierce will of independence and a sharp sense of humor. He enjoyed gardening, working on his home, listening to NPR, reading, writing, "talking smart and acting dumb", and of course spending time with his family.

Dennis is survived by his daughter Samantha (Joseph) Papke of Minneapolis, Minnesota and son Ian (Heather) Veldhouse of Minot, North Dakota; grandchildren Emma and Elliot Veldhouse of Minot, North Dakota; sister: Deanna Henrichs of Herman; brothers: Dwight Veldhouse of Norcross, Minnesota; Donald (Arlene) Veldhouse of Yankton, South Dakota; and Darrel (Deanna) Veldhouse of Dilworth, Minnesota. Dennis was preceded in death by his parents and brother Douglas.

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