William 'Bill' De Yager

Steen, Minnesota William Bill De Yager age 75 of Steen, MN died Thursday, March 11, 2010 at the Royal C. Johnson Veterans Memorial Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD. Funeral services will be 10:00 a.m. Tues., March 16, 2010 at The Reformed Church of Steen, MN with Rev. Dan Kuik, officiating. Burial will follow in the Eastside Cemetery at Steen, MN. Visitation will be Mon., March 15, 2010 from 4:00 p.m. " 8:00 p.m. with the family present from 6:00 " 8:00 p.m. at The Reformed Church of Steen. Bill De Yager was born on April 9, 1934 near Hudson, SD, the son of Sam and Ida (Gerritson) DeYager. He attended country school near Hudson, IA. As a young man, Bill worked as a live-in hired hand for a local farmer. In 1954, he entered the United States Army and was stationed in France until his honorable discharge in February of 1956. On March 26, 1956 he was united in marriage to Marlene Abma at the Christian Reformed Church in Doon, IA. To this union three daughters were born. The couple began their lives together farming Marlenes fathers farm and in March of 1959 they moved to their current location near Steen. Their farm was typical of so many small family farms; raising cattle, chickens, hogs and crops. In 1964 the young family moved to California where Bill worked as a landscaper and gardener and where their third daughter, Darla was born. While Bill and his family were in California between the years of 1964 and 1973, they allowed the Christian School of Hills to farm their land for mutual benefit. The couple built a new house on the farm in 1973 where they have resided to the present. Bill will be remembered as an avid collector of antique John Deere Tractors all of which he restored to pristine condition. He not only enjoyed the work of restoration, but he truly loved the adventure of acquiring the machines. Bill has made countless friends across the country and Canada as he would spot treasures in groves and farms along his travels. He would pull onto the yard to visit with the owner and end up not only with another tractor for his vast collection but a new friend as well. His warm and winning personality will be remembered by many. His daughters will remember him as a fun and loving father and grandfather. They will also remember him as a wonderful husband to their mother. Bill took great care and pride in his family and he loved them dearly. Another interest that took Bill and Marlene places was their love for gospel music. The couple hardly missed a trip in the last 25 years to the National Gospel Quartet Convention as it was held in either Nashville, TN or Louisville, KY. They often went with other couples and truly enjoyed every minute. This past Thursday, Bill De Yager passed away at the Veterans Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. He was 75. Bill is survived by his wife of 53 years, Marlene; daughters, Debbie (Steve) Hup of Luverne, MN, Diana Schwartz of Beaver Creek and Darla (Darren) Vant Hul of Hull, IA; grandchildren, Andrea Hup of Sioux City, Lindsay (Cody) Hup Wilsey of Sioux Falls, SD, Joshua (Melinda) Moser of Larchwood, Travis (Dawn) Moser of Butterfield, MN, Kelsey Moser of Luverne, MN, Drake, Dylan, DaNae, and Dason Vant Hul, all of Hull, IA; and 4 great grandchildren; brother, Albert (Minnie) De Yager of Inwood, IA; sister, Tracy (Gerrit) Byker of Hawarden; and brother Junior (Ann) De Yager of Inwood, IA; as well as many nieces and nephews and other extended family members. He was preceded in death by his parents, Sam and Ida De Yager; brother, Gerrit; sister-in-law, Dena; sister, Irene who died as a child; and son-in-law, John Schwartz.