Obituary of Dennis Leroy Meyerdirk
Dennis Leroy Meyerdirk age 68, the son of Roscoe and Eileen (Snow) Meyerdirk was born Oct.10, 1941 at Lake Park, IA. Dennis grew up on the family farm east of Worthington, MN. He attended school at Ewington through 7th grade and on to Okabena, graduating in 1960.
In July 1950, Dennis and his 4 siblings lost their mother suddenly to encephalitis. As a young boy Dennis participated in 4-H and showed his Blue Ribbon market barrow annually at the Jackson County Fair. Dennis always pursued an array of interests from building things to restoring a discarded bike or scooter to benefit his younger siblings or to earn some cash. Dennis' 1st love was his horses. He began breaking and training them at a young age and started his shoeing business. He not only taught his younger siblings to ride, but lessons in dancing and driving his straight-stick Ford Falcon, as well! Teen years brought Dennis participating with the Spafford Thunder Riders Saddleclub, performing in the Flag Drill Team and competing in barrel racing, pole bending, pleasure classes and on to riding broncs and bulls. He competed in High School rodeo, which in 1959, missed by only a fraction of a point, of being "All Around Cowboy", in Granite Falls, MN; which made the front page of the MPLS Star & Tribute Sunday paper! Dennis was an "outrider" for the one man he looked up to and cherished, Melvin Pigman's Chuckwagon Team, that furiously competed at the annual Clay County Fair in Spencer. He also enjoyed participating with SW Minnesota Trailriders; all aside from the daily am and pm of milking 14 cows, feeding 200 hogs and all that goes with it and the work in the fields from crop to crop, season to season. 98% of family photos were because of Dennis' little "Brownie" camera and his ability to earn enough for that roll of B&W film and developing it.
Dennis worked for Gerdes Construction, giving him the expertise to later renovate his entire house at the farm he purchased and planted 500 trees upon, one by one, which, today are mass and breathtaking. Dennis farmed his land and worked in a packinghouse as well.
Dennis married Margaret Ling and to this union, a son Todd was born. A second marriage brought sons Eric and Scott. In Oct.1996, Dennis was seriously injured in a vehicle accident. Following a long period of recuperation, he was diagnosed with Huntington's disease. By Oct. 2000 and after a total hip surgery Dennis was faced with declining health. He spent time at several care facilities, with Ruthven Care Center, April 2005 being his final home, where he peacefully passed away with family by his side.
Dennis was preceded in death by his parents, stepmother, a brother (Bill), infant half-sister (Evelyn Rae) and son, Eric Dobson.
Left to cherish his memory are brothers Dick and his wife Janet of Darby, MT, Kenneth and his wife Linda of rural Worthington, MN; sister, Cheryle Wilson and her husband Gary of Ruthven, IA's Lost Island; half sisters, Lucy, Renee Pranger and her husband Bill of Ocheyedan, IA; half brothers Roscoe Jr. and his wife Cindy of Worthington, MN and Milo and his wife Cheryl of Grandville MI; sons Todd Geertsema of Minneapolis, MN area and Scott Dobson of Sioux Falls SD.; 21 nieces and nephews, friends and other relatives. A very special brother has left our family circle. We will miss him dearly.
