Kermit Alsaker

Kermit James Alsaker, 90, Rosholt, SD, died Sunday, December 4, 2011, at the Rosholt Care Center.
Funeral services were Wednesday, December 7, at 2:00 p.m. at Bethania Lutheran Church in Rosholt with Pastor Nancy Quatier officiating. Music was provided by organist Lana Sand and vocalists Paul and Lana Sand.
Burial was in the Trondhjem Cemetery, rural Rosholt. Pallbearers were Keith Alsaker, Jason Etter, Curt Alsaker, Myles Peterson, Ron Struck, Dan Akerson, Robert Meyer, Jim Larsen and Keith Falken.
Visitation was Tuesday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the Eggers Funeral Home in Rosholt.
Kermit was born on April 28, 1921, at Lakeview Farm in Harmon Twp., Roberts Co., SD, to Christian Olson and Anna (Crystad) Alsaker. He attended East Harmon #1 North School and graduated from Rosholt High School in 1939. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran Faith and was a life time member of Trondhjem Lutheran Church, rural Rosholt. He began farming with his father.
Kermit met Vina Marklund at his cousin Henry Alsaker's wedding to Mildred, Vina's sister, near Littlefork, MN. After a year of correspondence the couple married at the Free Mission parsonage in Littlefork, MN, on June 8, 1946. They were married for 65 years. They had two sons: Vincent and Larry. Kermit was self-employed as a farmer and tax preparer. Kermit retired from farming at age 75, and he continued his tax-return preparation work until the age of 86. They had a second house in Rosholt from 1996-2010 where they wintered. He later resided at the Countryside Inn in Rosholt and finally the Rosholt Care Center.
Kermit was a Sunday school teacher, a church council member, and the coordinator of the Twin Townships Cemeteries. He served on the Rosholt Co-op Elevator Board and was a leader of the Harmony 4-H Club. In the late 1970s he earned a private pilot's license. He was well known for playing piano by ear ~ black keys only ~ and shared his talents with the community.
Kermit loved to farm, work with his tax customers, tell a good story, and take road trips with Vina. He relished going to the fall church lutefisk dinners. He was proud of Lakeview Farm which is a South Dakota Century Farm.
Kermit is survived by his wife Vina, son Vincent (Myla) Alsaker of Fargo, ND; a sister Doris Raguse of Hopkins, MN; two grandchildren Camille (Jason) Etter and Keith Alsaker (Julie Liu); and three great grandchildren Emma, Madeline, and Jasper Etter.
He is preceded in death by his son Larry; his parents; two half-brothers both named Herbert Christian Melvin; and two half-sisters Edith Witte and Josie Babst.