Ferdinand Zell, age 96, of Huron, died Sunday, July 4, 2010, at SunQuest Healthcare Center.

His funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Our Saviors Lutheran Church with burial at LeSueur Cemetery in Bancroft.

Visitation will be Wednesday from 1-8 p.m. at Welter Funeral Home with family present from 6-8 p.m. and a Prayer Service at 7:00 p.m.; or Thursday morning one hour prior to the service.

Ferdinand Ferd William Zell, son of William and Emillie (Koser) Zell, was born on September 12, 1913, on the family farm near Cavour, SD. He attended country school through the 9th grade. He worked for area farmers over the next several years.

On June 1, 1939, Ferd married Phyllis Bloodgood at Bancroft, SD. He continued to work for his uncle and farmers in Minnesota and Huron. In 1942, he partnered with his brother and they started Zell Brothers Implement in Bancroft operating the business for the next 40 years. They also farmed a small acreage during this time. In addition, Ferd owned and operated school buses for over 20 years for the Bancroft and De Smet Public School Systems. Ferd officially retired in 1978, however, he owned/operated a small-motor repair business in Bancroft, then later in Huron. His wife, Phyllis died on April 2, 1993. Ferd moved to Huron in 2000. He became a resident of SunQuest Healthcare Center in February of 2010.

He was a member of St, Johns Lutheran Church in Bancroft, and an associate member of Our Saviors Lutheran Church in Huron. He was an avid bowler until the age of 96. He enjoyed playing cards, dancing when he was younger, traveling with Phyllis, and the Minnesota Twins.

He is survived by 1 daughter, Nancy (Jerry) Schlicker of Sedro Woolley, WA; 1 son, Terry (Rhonda Wellsandt-Zell) Zell of Huron; 1 daughter-in-law, Betty (Bob Booze) Zell-Booze of Renner, SD; 5 grandchildren, Kevin (Donna) Schlicker, Debra Schlicker, Alexander Zell, Rob (Cindy) Zell, and Joni (Brian) Koster; 1 granddaughter-in-law, Susan Schlicker; 15 great grandchildren, Derek Schlicker, Kara Schlicker, Sarah (Richard) Dealy, Rachel Dealy, Nicholas Schlicker, Stephanie Schlicker, Amanda Schlicker, Amanda Zell, Jordan Zell, Brady Zell, Elli Zell, Lauren Zell, Cooper Zell, Brianna Koster, and Kamren Koster; 1 great great granddaughter, Kaelyn Stillson; 2 brothers, Harland (Mary) Zell of Florrissant, MO, and Verald (Phyllis) Zell of Pollock, LA; 2 sisters, Esther (Art) Koenig-Moschkou of Turtle Lake, WI, and Lenora (Armand) Peskey of Iroquois, SD; 2 sisters-in-law, Evelyn Zell of Huron, and Alice Zell of Huron.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Phyllis on April 2, 1993; 1 son, Veralyn Zell; 1 grandson, Steven Schlicker; 2 sisters, Min (Les) Nordstrom, and Mary Zell; 8 brothers, Erwin (Lydia) Zell, Frank Zell, Walter (Emma) Zell, Ben Zell, George Zell, Marvin (Maxine) Zell, Clifford Zell, and Bill (Shirley) Zell.