Norman Winter

Funeral services for Norman Davis Winter, 84 of Milford, will be held Monday, September 26, 2016 at 11:00 AM at First Lutheran Church in West Okoboji with Rev. Bob Vaage and Rev. Perry Aalgaard officiating. Norm died Wednesday, September 21, 2016 at his home in Milford surrounded by his loving family. Norman Winter, the second oldest of six children, was born December 23, 1931 at Lakota, SD, to Claus P. and Audrey (Lloyd) Winter. He was raised on a farm in rural Milford, graduating from Milford High School in May of 1950. Norm served his country in the United States Air Force from 1950-1954. On October 22, 1953, Norm married Stella Courtney at St. John's Newfoundland. The couple moved to Milford in December of 1954, where Norm worked as a truck driver and at farm related jobs such as bailing hay until he eventually farmed his dad's farm southwest of Milford on a full-time basis until his retirement in 1994. He continued to help on the farm right up until his death with his long-time friend and tenant, Dean Reiser. Law enforcement interested Norm as he worked as a part-time and full-time Milford Police Officer before joining the Dickinson County Sheriff's Office in 1982. Norm also enjoyed gardening and especially growing sweet corn. Norm became the "Sweet Corn Man of Milford" and along with Stella they enjoyed many hours of sweet corn sales on the corner while visiting with friends and neighbors. Throughout his life, Norm was involved with many local organizations, including serving as Commander of the Milford American Legion, a 32 Degree Mason, Shriner, a member of the Milford Fire Department and First Lutheran Church. Norm found pleasure in presenting the Mason Scholarship to a graduating senior each year during Awards Night. Helping others was foremost for Norm. He and Stella enjoyed attending and working at the Shrine Circus each spring in Sioux City and working at the Shrine Club food stand at the Clay County Fair each fall. Norm made over 90 trips to the Veteran's Hospital in Sioux Falls providing much needed transportation for disabled veterans. A pilot, Norm learned his skills in the Air Force and owned and flew several airplanes over the years. Many people experienced their first airplane ride at the helm of Norm Winter. Active in the Milford Fire Department, Norm was one of the first members to get the Jaws of Life extrication equipment to Milford. In his day, he would tell about driving the first ambulance in Milford also. Survivors include his wife of 63 years, Stella; three daughters, Sonya (Jeff) Johnsen of Spirit Lake, Sharon (Doug) Koch of Milford and Lavonne Winter of Madison, Wisconsin; five grandchildren, Sarah, Lindsay, Dillon, John and Tyler; four great-grandchildren, Christian, Cheyenne, Nicholas and Isaiah; one sister, Anne Scarff; brother-in-law, Hal Mills; sister-in-law, Jeannine Winter of Fostoria; many nieces, nephews, relatives and a host of friends. He was preceded in death by his father, Claus; mother, Audrey; brother, Clifford Winter; sisters, Phyllis Beving, Dorothy Parks and Marlene Mills; and daughter, Linda Wallace. Interment will be at the Little Sioux Lutheran Church Cemetery, just down the road from the farm in rural Milford.