Sylvan G. Vugteveen, 81
Sylvan G. Vugteveen, 81, of Valley Springs, S.D.. died Wednesday, May 27, 2020 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, S.D. His funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 3 at Abiding Savior Free Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, with burial at Pleasant View Cemetery, Valley Springs. The service will be live-streamed.
Sylvan Glen Vugteveen, son of Lane and Harriet (DeZeeuw) Vugteveen, was born Sep. 12, 1938 in Rock Valley, Iowa. At a young age the family made their home in Valley Springs, where he graduated from Valley Springs High School in 1956.
Sylvan met his future wife Martina (Tina) VanDis while attending the church youth group in Valley Springs. In early 1960, Syl moved to California to pursue a career in the trucking business. He later returned to Valley Springs, where he and Tina were married on June 9, 1961. The happy couple went back to California and settled in Artesia, Calif.
In January of 1962, Syl was drafted into the United States Army. The couple moved to Washington to serve his country. They stayed in Washington until 1964. Syl and Tina then moved back to Artesia where he continued his career in the trucking business. One of the things he enjoyed during his time in California was being a Cadet Leader for the boy’s youth group at New Life Community Church.
After 17 years living on the West Coast, the family packed up and permanently moved back to his childhood home of Valley Springs, SD in 1976. Syl always enjoyed horses growing up and within two months after moving back to South Dakota he bought a horse. He continued to have horses into his retirement years.
Syl continued in the trucking business into his retirement years until he sold his semi-truck, a Kenworth, in 2008. He would often say there was not a day that he didn’t look forward to going to work. He really enjoyed his work and had a passion for trucking.
During his retirement years, Syl enjoyed visiting out of state relatives, working various part-time driving jobs, camping trips, being active in his local American Legion post in Valley Springs, and spending time with family and friends. He really enjoyed his time fellowshipping with friends at church, meeting for breakfast and coffee, and helping others whenever he could. He will be greatly missed by all those who knew and loved him.
Grateful for having shared his life are his wife of 59 years, Tina; two sons, Steve Vugteveen and his wife, Patti, Valley Springs, Dan Vugteveen and his wife, Laurie, Shafer, Minn.; five grandchildren, Adam Vugteveen and his wife, Kristal, Kristin Moots and her husband, Tony, Trent Vugteveen, Kyla Vugteveen, Kalley Vugteveen; seven great-grandchildren, Kaelin, Will, Owen and Khloe, Logan, Gavin and Weston; two siblings, Myron Vugteveen and his wife, Myra, Mankato, Minn., Marcella VanRoekel, Frederick, Colo.; and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins and friends.
Sylvan was preceded in death by his parents, Lane and Harriet Vugteveen; a sister, Elaine Bosch; and his parents-in-law, Joe and Minnie VanDis.
Online guestbook and livestream link at georgeboom.com.
