Harold Tellinghuisen, 94
Harold Tellinghuisen, 94, entered into the arms of the Lord Thursday, Feb. 21, 2019, at Good Samaritan Society Luther Manor in Sioux Falls. Funeral services were held at 11 a.m., Monday, Feb. 25, 2019, at Faith United Church in Brandon. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the DAV, Alzheimer’s Association, or a charity of your choice. George Boom Funeral Chapel in Brandon has been entrusted with arrangements.
Harold was born to Andrew and Annie (Mundhanke) Tellinghuisen on Jan. 13, 1925, in Willow Lake, S.D. He was one of nine children. He grew up on a farm and as boys would do, he and his younger brothers would pull pranks on the older siblings and vice versa. They would love to retell all the stories. Harold was known for his great sense of humor and his ever-ready one-liners.
Harold moved to Sioux Falls after graduating from Willow Lake High School. While singing in the choir at First Reformed Church, he met his future wife, Glennis Knock, and was married on April 16, 1950. Between 1948 and 1951, he served two tours of duty, one in Japan and theother in Korea. During his second tour of duty he was wounded twice and received two purple hearts. His first injury hospitalized him for approximately two months and left him with shrapnel in his head. Upon working his way back to the front lines, his second injury happened when a boulder from atop a mountain struck him and crushed the side of his face. He went back to the hospital for a couple more months and returned home in December 1951. He was the first soldier from South Dakota to receive two purple hearts. Harold was overseas when his first daughter was born, first meeting Julie when she was six months old.
Upon returning home, he was employed at John Morrell & Co. He soon started Telle’s Garbage Service. He enjoyed that work, meeting customers and finding treasures that he could “recycle” to use at home: bikes, doll houses, furniture etc. He then went to All-American Freight as a trailer mechanic until his retirement in 1987.
Harold was a very handy man; he loved working with wood and small engines. His other passion was model trains. He and Glennis also loved to travel and met the goal to visit all 50 states. Harold served the Brandon community for many years on the Brandon Volunteer Fire Department. He was a charter member of Faith United Presbyterian Church in Brandon where he sang in the choir, served as a Deacon, Elder and general handyman. He openly lived his faith by inviting his customers and strangers to join his church family.
Harold and Glennis were blessed with six children, Julie Lovrien of Aberdeen, Sally Putzke of Sioux Falls, Kelvin (Lisa Miller) Tellinghuisen of Sioux Falls, Pamela (Russell) VerMulm of Sioux Falls, Brenda (Dave) Bader of Brandon and Glenda (Mike) Siemonsma of Dell Rapids.
They had 13 grandchildren, Marshall and Brad Lovrien, Katelynn Shubeck, Barry and Mark Putzke, Elise Derry and Kelli Wehrkamp, Brandon, Bryan and Michael Bader, David Bell, Justin Siemonsma and Chelsey Sundberg.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Glennis; son-in-law, Larry Lovrien; and many other relatives.
