Harold "Augie" Ackerman, 86, of Webster, passed away Sunday January 2, 2022 at his home in Webster with family at his side.
Funeral services will be 10:30 A.M. Monday, January 10, 2022 at United Methodist Church in Webster. Military interment will be in the Webster Cemetery.
Visitation will be 2-4 P.M. Sunday at the funeral home.
Harold Eugene Ackerman, "Augie", was born December 15th, 1935, to Helen and Paul Ackerman on their farm East of Waubay, SD. He was the youngest of 6 siblings. Growing up his mother was in a wheelchair, so he was the caregiver while his dad worked the railroad. When he was seven years old, they moved into the town of Waubay and by age nine he had his first job setting pins at the bowling alley. He a had few different jobs in his teen years including running the projector at the movie theatre to working on a local farm. He attended Waubay High School and graduated in 1954 and later that year February 1954 enlisted in the US Army where 18 months of his three-year tour was spent in Korea. After his discharge in 1957 he met Marilyn "Kay" Roth at a local dance and married eight months later, October 19, 1957. They lived in Lead, SD while he worked in the Homestake Gold Mine and some time in Aberdeen where he worked construction, until 1970 when they moved to Marilyn's hometown Webster, SD. They adopted 2 children, James Courtney, January 30, 1969, and Amber Leah June 30, 1974. Harold began working for Northwestern Service as a journey lineman in 1970 and continued to be employed there until 1987 when he decided to purchase his brother in laws tree trimming business and continued this until he retired in 2013. Harold had many hobbies that he enjoyed throughout the years with his wife and kids. He enjoyed playing guitar, square dancing with Kay, taking the kids fishing, sporting events, (especially to watch his grandson Blaize), playing cards, and bowling in the local league and tournaments. He also attended Bowling Nationals every year and received a 25-year honor his last year he was able to attend in 2019. During retirement, he spent a lot of time on the golf course and soon became somewhat of a legend when he shot his hole in one in 2012. He lost Kay August 5, 2001, and his son, James, April 16th, 20 2020; but was blessed with three grand-daughters, one grand-son, and one great grand-daughter. He enjoyed attending all the grandkids school events and sporting events, taking them golfing, bowling, playing cards, and mostly telling his life stories to them and whomever else might want to listen as he had an amazing personality, and his memory was sharp. He attended the United Methodist Church in Webster most of his life and currently was a very active member in which he had a strong church family.
He is survived by his daughter, Amber Leah, grand-daughters Briana, Karyssa, and Cassidi, Grandson Blaize, and Great grand-daughter Scarlett. He was preceded in death by his mother, Helen (Temple) Ackerman, his father, Paul Ackerman, three brothers, "Ike", "Bud", and "Red"; twi sister, Ella and Mavis; his wife Marilyn "Kay" Ackerman, and his son James.