Ted C. Thode

Ted C. Thode, 64, Sisseton, SD, passed away Monday, December 1, 2014, at the Tekakwitha Living Center in Sisseton surrounded by his loving family.

Funeral services were Friday, December 5, at 10:30 a.m. at the Family Life Assembly of God Church in Sisseton with Rev. Vernal Donnell officiating. Music was provided by pianist June Evenson, musician Irv Slaamot, and vocalists April Moen, Holly Anderson, and Pat Schubert.

Burial will be at a later date in the Sisseton Cemetery. Honorary urn bearers were the members of the Sisseton Volunteer Fire Department, Roberts County Rescue Squad, and former co-workers from Cenex. Active urn bearers were Ted's nephews and one niece: Steven Smith, Melissa Ryan, Timmy Thode, Eric Thode, and Thoody Thode.

Visitation will be Thursday from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. followed by a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at the church.

Ted was born December 6, 1949, to Theodore A. Thode and Carole H. (Cornelius) Thode in Sisseton. He attended Sisseton Public Schools and graduated from Sisseton High School in 1968. Ted attended Lake Area Technical School and studied electronics. In 1970, he married Carolyn Vasend and was blessed with four children, Tracey, Tressa, little Teddy, and Dustin. On February 14, 1995, he married Janis (Bartz) McCleerey.

Ted worked 30 years for Cenex in Sisseton. In 2002, Ted and Janis moved to Petoskey, MI, where Ted worked for Meyers Hardware. In 2004, Ted realized he was too far from family, so they moved to Fargo, ND. Ted worked six years for the Great Plains Food Bank before being diagnosed with Frontal Temporal Dementia. They moved to Sisseton in 2013 for family support with his care.

Ted loved to garden and make his own salsa. He was an avid woodworker, creating many gifts made from oak. It was a sin to paint any oak wood. With his love for cooking, he created his own version of fry bread tacos in which Ted and Jan sold at food stands under the 'Teddy Tacos' name brand. He loved to attend his kids sporting events and everyone knew Ted was there…..

For many years, Ted ran the sound system for Sunday morning services at Assembly of God in Sisseton. Ted volunteered for the Sisseton Fire Department for 25 years and worked with the Roberts County Rescue Squad for 15 years. In later years, he enjoyed playing Yahtzee and bingo. In his last game, he shook a Yahtzee beating Jan and his sister, Teresa.

Survivors include his wife, Janis of Sisseton; three children, Tracey Thode of Farmington, MN, Tressa Boespflug and husband Mike of Circle Pines, MN, and Dustin Thode of Crystal, MN; three stepchildren, Stephanie McCleerey and husband Glen Fladboe of Minneapolis, MN, Aaron and Heather McCleerey of Sisseton, and Mirissa and Albert Smith of Glenwood, MN; eight grandchildren, Taylor Just and Tanner Thode, Madeline Boespflug, Amelia Fladboe, Spencer, Conner, Grayson, and Corbin McCleerey; one sister, Teresa Thode and Dale Brooks of Sisseton; two brothers, Tim and Faye Thode of Circle Pines, MN, and Tom Thode of Sisseton; and many nephews and nieces.

Ted was preceded in death by his parents, Theodore and Carole Thode; one son, Little Teddy; and one grandson, Lucas Boespflug.