James Craig Syverson, 69, of Oldham, died Monday, March 26, 2018, at Sanford Heath System in Sioux Falls after complications of heart failure.

Memorial services are at 10:30 a.m. Friday at Lake Whitewood Lutheran Church in rural Arlington.  Burial is in the church cemetery.

James Craig Syverson was born on Sept.18, 1948, to John and Helen (Brunick) Syverson at Volga. He was baptized and confirmed at Lake Whitewood Lutheran Church rural Arlington.  Jim attended first and second grade school at Spring Lake No. 1 and third through eighth grade at Spring Lake No. 8 and graduated from Arlington High School in 1967. Soon after graduating he joined the U.S. Navy and served on the USS Kitty Hawk on the flight deck. 

After an honorable discharge, he remained in California and was employed at Hewlett Packard in Palo Alto.  In 1981 he moved to Mitchell, then in 1982 returned to the farm and began his farming career which he did until 2005, later doing custom combing until 2017. Jim also owned and operated a vineyard which he continued until recently.

Jim married Carol Swenson Raabe on June 3, 2001 at Lake Whitewood Lutheran Church.  They divorced after 15 years of marriage.  He greatly enjoyed his nieces and nephews, rebuilding old motor cycles, hunting and fishing.  He also enjoyed raising a large vegetable garden and shared his bountiful crop.  Jim was a very generous man in many ways.

Jim is survived by his mother, Helen Syverson of Arlington; brother, Richard (Jeanne) Syverson of Harrisburg; sister, Kathie Swenson of Brandon; two nephews; four nieces;  seven great-nieces and nephews.

He preceded in death by his father, John, maternal grandparents, TR and Christine Brunick, paternal grandparents, John and Gertie Syverson and several aunts, uncles and cousins.