Selmer "Ted" Utne

WAUBAY – Selmer “Ted” Utne of Waubay passed away peacefully with family at his side Saturday November 11, 2017 at his home near Waubay. Memorial services will be 1:00 P.M. Saturday November 18, 2017 at Zion Lutheran Church in Waubay. A luncheon will immediately follow the service at the Waubay Legion. Military inurnment will be in the Ortley Cemetery. Visitation will begin Saturday morning at the church at 11:00 A.M. and continue until the service. In lieu of flowers the family requests that memorials be made in Ted's memory to a charity of your choice. Fiksdal Funeral Service of Webster is in charge of the arrangements. Selmer Theodore Utne was born on November 11, 1939 to Selmer Sr. and Doris (Cooper) Utne at Webster, South Dakota. The family made their home on a farm near Ortley, South Dakota. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Ottos Catholic Church in Webster and later confirmed as an adult at Zion Lutheran Church in Waubay, South Dakota. He attended school in Ortley and Waubay. When Ted was 17 years old, he enlisted in the United States Airforce. While serving his country, he obtained his GED. He was stationed in Germany for three years. Upon his honorable discharge in 1960, he returned to Ortley. He worked various jobs in the South Dakota including construction of pole barns and grain bins as well as hauling flax straw. He also lived in Rapid City where he assembled missile sites. He then moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota and took employment with Downing Box Company. On April 4, 1964, he was united in marriage to Jeanette Tesch at Zion Lutheran Church in Waubay. The couple made their home in Minneapolis. To this union three children were born; Paul, Lisa, and Julie. In 1966, Ted took a position as a lineman with Northern States Power Company, later known as Xcel Energy. In the late 60’s they relocated to Howard Lake, Minnesota. He worked positions for the company at Minneapolis, St. Cloud, and Howard Lake. On June 1, 1984, Ted endured a life altering accident that contributed to his ongoing health issues. In 1992, he retired from NSP and in 1993; the couple returned to the Waubay area and built a home in the country near Blue Dog Lake. Ted was a kind man, known for his generosity to others. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and playing cards. He often would open his home to hunters and fisherman. He was a great storyteller and cherished time spent with his family and friends. He will be remembered for his courage and strength and love for his family. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church, lifelong member of the American Legion in both Howard Lake and Waubay. He also was a Boy Scout Leader for many years passing several Eagle Scouts throughout his leadership. Ted passed away peacefully with family at his side on Saturday, November 11, 2017 at his home near Waubay, South Dakota at the age of 78 years. He will be forever loved and greatly missed by his wife Jeanette Utne of Waubay, SD, son Paul (Jodi) Utne of Howard Lake, MN, daughters; Lisa (Mark) Koller of Howard Lake, MN, and Julie (Darin Manthie) Utne of Annandale, MN. He is also survived by ten grandchildren (and one on the way) as well as three brothers; James Utne of Watertown, SD, Bill Utne of Ortley, SD, and Tom Utne of Summit, SD, and one sister Mary Jo Whitted of Sioux Falls, SD. He was preceded in death by his parents, brother Richard Utne, infant sister Barbara Utne, and two nieces.