Joel "Joe" Bisgard

WAUBAY – Joel “Joe” Bisgard 64 of Waubay passed away Friday September 20, 2019 at his home in Waubay. A Celebration Of Life will be 10:30 A.M. Thursday September 26, 2019 at Fiksdal Funeral Service in Webster. Military Honors will be presented by Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter #1054. Memorial visitation will be Wednesday 5-7 P.M. at the funeral home. Joel Elmer Bisgard was born on November 19, 1954 to Bradford and Mary (Acker) Bisgard at Webster, South Dakota. He was baptized and confirmed at Egeland Lutheran Church. He attended school in Waubay and graduated in 1973. Prior to his senior year, he enlisted in the United States Navy. He was honorably discharged in 1972. On September 13, 1975, he married Sally Knudson at New Helgen Lutheran Church in Florence, South Dakota. The couple made their home south of Waubay where they raised four children; Jacob, Carrie, Joshua, and Amy. Joe farmed the family farm and operated an over-the-road trucking business. In the mid-1980’s, Joe attended welding school in Englewood, Colorado. Due to the flood of 1997, the family moved to Waubay. In 2010, the couple purchased Bittersweet Lodge in rural Summit. In 2018, Joe retired but continued to keep busy with various projects. Joe was a member of the firing squad for the Waubay American Legion Post 129 and Lake Region Sportsman Club. He was a “jack of all trades” who loved hunting, especially goose hunting on Bitter Lake and bear hunting. He enjoyed socializing with his friends and family, gardening, riding motorcycle, and above all else, he cherished time spent with his beloved family – who were his proudest accomplishment and his pride and joys. He is survived by his wife, Sally Bisgard, of Waubay, SD; two sons, Jacob (Anna) Bisgard of Watertown, SD and Joshua (Allison) Bisgard of Ortley, SD; two daughters, Carrie (Eric) Niles of Waubay, SD and Amy (Adam) Baete of Sioux Falls, SD; father Brad Bisgard of Watertown, SD; one sister, Pam (Gary) Hanson of Sioux Falls, SD; one brother-in-law, Jim (Cheryl) Knudson of Florence, SD; his mother-in-law, Virginia Knudson of Watertown, SD; eight grandchildren, Mallory, Soren, Owen, Linken, Everly, Maxxim, Maverick, and Mila; one niece and three nephews. He is preceded in death by his mother Mary Bisgard, granddaughter Calissa Niles, father-in-law Harvey Knudson, and dog Riley.