Fred Donald Havelaar

HUDSON, SOUTH DAKOTA ~ Freddie “Fred” Donald Havelaar, 74, of Hudson, passed away Sunday, December 17, 2023, at Tieszen Memorial Home in Marion, South Dakota.

   Funeral Service will be 1:30 p.m. Friday, December 22, 2023, at Porter Funeral Home in Hudson, South Dakota with Pastor Carolyn Salberg officiating. Burial, with military rites, will follow at Eden Cemetery. Visitation with the family will be from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Thursday at the funeral home. The funeral service will be recorded and uploaded to his obituary page.

   Freddie “Fred” Donald Havelaar was born at home in Lincoln County, on his parent’s farm west of Hudson, South Dakota. Fred was born on January 7, 1949, to Case and Dorothy (George) Havelaar. He attended school at West Branch Country School from 1^st grade to the 6^th grade, and then Junior High in town and 9^th grade at Hudson High School.

   Fred then started working as a hired hand on the farm for Merle Admundson and Dick Sogn and various other neighbors.

   He was drafted into the United States Army, being inducted January 22, 1969. Fred served in the Vietnam War and was honorably discharged January 21, 1971. He received many medals for his service including the Silver Star, Bronze Star, Purple Heart, Republic of Vietnam Combat Medal, and the Combat Infantry Badge.

   When Fred returned home after doing his tour in Vietnam, he went back to working as a hired hand, on the farm Fred started farming with his dad in 1976, west and north of Hudson. Fred enjoyed working the land by disking, dragging, planting the corn and beans, and watching them grow, and enjoyed combining in the fall when the crops were ready. Fred liked to tend to his livestock and raising the baby calves. When he was able, Fred liked to go to farm auctions.

   He was a member of the Bergstrom Bodeen American Legion Post 128 of Hudson.

   He is survived by four brothers, John Havelaar of Marion, South Dakota, Edward “Pete” Havelaar of Rockford, Illinois, Bill Havelaar of Hudson, and Casey Havelaar and wife Cindy also of Hudson; a sister, Ann Brown of Lennox, South Dakota; 9 nephews; 2 nieces, many great nephews, great nieces, and cousins.

   Fred was preceded in death by his parents, Case and Dorothy Havelaar; and 2 brothers, James Havelaar of Hudson and Henry “Hank” Havelaar of Sioux Falls, South Dakota.