Berdell Cavanaugh

WEBSTER – Berdell Cavanaugh, 76 of Webster died on Sunday, April 2, 2006 at Bethesda Home in Webster. His funeral will be at 11:00 A.M. Thursday, April 6, 2006 at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Webster, Rev. William Olsen will officiate. Burial will be in the Webster Cemetery. Visitation will be at Fiksdal Funeral Service in Webster on Wednesday 4-7 P.M. and prior to services on Thursday. Berdell Alvin Cavanaugh was born on Tuesday, July 30, 1929 to Alvin and Flora (Herr) Cavanaugh in the Bristol Hospital. He attended school in Butler and Roslyn area where they lived at the time. As a young boy he worked on the farm with his parents as a farm laborer. In 1947 he joined the National Guard, 196th Tank Company and served two years of active duty at Fort Carson, Colorado and Fort Richardson, Alaska. On April 23, 1951 he married Irene Mjolsness of Webster at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Colorado Springs, Colorado. The couple lived there until his transfer to Alaska. He received his honorable discharge in 1953 as a Master Sergeant and they returned to Webster. Berdell held a variety of jobs including, Anderson Feed and Seed. Lambert Lumber, mechanic and wheel alignment for Best Motors, lineman for R.E.A., milk sales and deliveries for Sunshine State Dairy and owner-operator for Terrace Park Dairy for ten years. He sold out and was employed selling cars for Jim Sharp at Loyal Chevrolet. He later became the owner of Loyal Chevrolet and Oldsmobile. He was a member of the Fargo Zone Dealership Council. In 1980 he sold the dealership. For a short time he was Restaurant and Bar Manager for the Big 10 when it opened and also did some independent trucking in the area. In 1981 he purchased more trucks and moved to Minot, North Dakota as an agent for American Freight Systems, when it closed he was employed by Don Bessette Motors and Minot Chrysler as sales and recon manager. He retired in 1991 and the couple returned to South Dakota to Blue Dog Lake near Waubay. In August 1998, due to illness and flooding, they returned to Webster. In 2000 he entered Bethesda Home in Webster. Berdell was very active in community. He served on the Webster City Council and was Mayor of Webster 1976-77. He was a member of the Lions Club, American Legion, Sons of Norway, and was honored by the Webster Key Club for setting up the Coffee House for the youth. He was a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Webster where he served on the council, was past President, taught Sunday School and served on other committees. After retirement he was also a councilman and Mayor of Waubay. He did not complete a full second term as Mayor of Waubay because he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s which eventually took away all he loved to do. He was known for his sense of humor, hard work and fun! He enjoyed visiting with old or young and helping those in need. He loved gardening, yard work, hunting, golfing, bowling, slow pitch softball, baseball, fishing, boating, trapshooting, round and square dancing. He loved spending time with his granddaughters and family, His black lab, Sam, was his friend and always with him. Berdell passed away on Sunday, April 2, 2006 at Webster, South Dakota at the age of 76 years, 8 months and 3 days. Survivors include his wife, Irene of Webster; one daughter, Faye (Duane) Hoven of Fargo, ND; two granddaughters, Nicole (Ryan) Pieske of St. Louis, MO and Kelly Williams of San Dimas, CA; a great granddaughter, Ava Faye Pieske; two sisters, Jeanette Lutz and Joyce (Joseph) Ewalt both of Webster, SD; one brother, Alan (Susan) Cavanaugh of Sioux Falls, SD; and several nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and three sisters.