Lynn Lydell Straatmeyer passed away after a lengthy illness at Southridge Care Center in Sioux Falls on March 25, 2018, at the age of 74. Lynn was born on April 26, 1943, in Alcester to Claus and Fannie Straatmeyer.
Shortly after Lynn was born he moved to George, Iowa where he spent the majority of his childhood. Lynn was baptized on June 6, 1943, at the Congregational Church in Alcester and later confirmed at First Presbyterian Church in George, Iowa. Lynn attended grades 1st-12th in George, Iowa and graduated in 1962. He then moved to Sioux Falls, when his father, Claus, retired.
Lynn started working at Metz Baking Company until he was drafted by the U.S. Army in 1965 to serve in the Vietnam War. He was honorably discharged in 1967.
On Aug. 21, 1971 Lynn married Dolores Ellefson and the couple had three children.
After returning from the war Lynn attended Sioux Falls College on the GI bill and graduated in 1972 with a bachelor’s of science degree in business administration and accounting. While attending college Lynn worked for Kreisers Surgical. He also worked for the Office Store until moving to Kasson, Minnesota, and working for Rochester Business Products as an accountant in 1978. In 1981 Lynn and Dolores moved back to South Dakota where Lynn took a position at South Dakota State as a half time accountant for the SDSU Foundation and also worked half time in the property management department for SDSU. When he retired in 2009 he was the head of the Cashier’s Office at SDSU.
Lynn and Dolores moved to Sioux Falls for health reasons and to be closer to family in 2010. Lynn enjoyed watching sci-fi movies, playing cards with friends and an occasional game of chess. He loved doing odd jobs around the house and was a lifelong member of the VFW and Lions Club in Brookings and Kasson, Minnesota.
The last two years of Lynn’s life he lived at the VA Hospice and Southridge Care Center in Sioux Falls. The family would like to thank the staff at both Southridge and the VA Medical Center for their exceptional care and love of Lynn.
Lynn is survived by his wife Dolores; children Angela Lynn, St. Paul, Minnesota; Chad (Megan) Straatmeyer , Sioux Falls, Kimberly Hammond (Joseph), Colleen, Texas; sister, Eileen (Ray) Collins, Phoenix, Arizona, four grandchildren, Chivalry age 10, Saoirse age 5, Ethan age 4, and Asher age 10. Lynn is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and his sister Marilyn Faye Ford.
Visitation will take place at Heritage Funeral Home on Wednesday, March 28, from 5-7 p.m with a prayer service beginning at 7 p.m. Funeral services and a luncheon will take place at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls on Thursday, March 29, 2018, at 10 a.m. Burial will follow in Jasper, Minnesota
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorials be directed to the COPD Foundation, the American Heart Association, or the Sioux Falls VA Hospital.
