Glenn Orrin Houtkooper

Glenn Houtkooper, 84, of Redwood Falls died Monday, September 21, 2015 as the result of an automobile accident near Braham, Minnesota. Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, September 26, 2015 from Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Redwood Falls with burial to follow in the Redwood Falls Cemetery. Visitation will be held on Friday, September 25, 2015, from 4 until 7 p.m., at Nelson-Hillestad Funeral Home in Redwood Falls and will continue on Saturday at the church from 9:30 until 10:30 a.m.
Arrangements are with Nelson-Hillestad Funeral Service of Redwood Falls. E-mail condolences may be sent via www.nelson-hillestad.com .

Glenn Orrin Houtkooper, the son of John and Mabel (Miller) Houtkooper, was born March 10, 1931 on the family farm near Brandt, South Dakota. He grew up on the farm and received his formal education in the nearby country school.

On June 26, 1951, Glenn married Bernice Torgerson at Wood Lake Lutheran Church in Astoria, South Dakota and the couple lived in Canby, Minnesota where Glenn worked at the co-op. They started farming in rural Brandt in 1955 and moved to a farm near Austoria in 1957. Glenn began his career in farm equipment sales in 1959. He worked in Brookings, South Dakota until 1963 and then Owatonna until moving to Redwood Falls in 1966. Glenn sold for Badger Northland and Wood & Conn for 33 years. Following his retirement in 1995, he worked part-time for Wood & Conn until 2010. Glenn then began transporting vehicles for Kohls-Weelborg Ford, a job he held until his death.

Glenn was a member of Gloria Dei Lutheran Church in Redwood Falls where he served as vice president of the congregation in 1970 and then president of the congregation in 1971. He was a chauffeur for church activities and an usher. Glenn was active in Men in Mission and the men’s Bible study. He enjoyed traveling and playing cards. Glenn was an avid reader and a handyman.

He is survived by his children Linda (Ray) Lomax of Bixby, Oklahoma, Peggy Cooper (Worth Madry) of Charlotte, North Carolina, David (Nancy) Houtkooper of Wabasha, Diane Houtkooper of Redwood Falls, and Ellen Houtkooper (Sharron Lund) of Redwood Falls; grandchildren Jennifer (Chris) Palmer, Kelly Vernon, Anne Cooper, Ben (Tina) Houtkooper, and Adam (Cindi) Houtkooper; eight great-grandchildren; brothers Don (Norma) Houtkooper of Canby, and Bob (Dolly) Houtkooper of Brookings; and sister Carol (Jerry) Henneman of Belle Fourche, South Dakota. Glenn was preceded in death by his wife Bernice in 2011; brother Clifford; special friend Mary Lou Hildebrandt; and special friend Marge Ripperton who died as a result of the automobile accident.

Blessed be his memory.