Robert Miedema, age 84, of 290 7th St. SW, Huron, SD, died Friday, October 10, 2008, at his home.

His funeral service will be at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, October 16, at the Huron Church of the Open Bible. Burial will be at the Broadland Cemetery with Military Rites by the Raymond-Hart American Legion Post #84 of Hitchcock.

Visitation will be Wednesday from 1-8 p.m. at the Welter Funeral Home with the family present from 6-8 p.m.; or Thursday morning one hour prior to the service at the church.

Robert Andrew Miedema was born on January 6, 1924, to Claus and Rachel (Holleman) in Springfield, SD. When he was 2 years old he moved with his family to a farm near Broadland, SD, where he grew up and attended school. After completion of the eighth grade he moved to California where he worked on a dairy farm for a period of time. He returned to the family farm and in the late 1930's he was one of the men, along with his father, who helped build the Hoover Road, using a horse drawn grader.

On December 15, 1943, Robert boarded the train from the old Huron Train Depot and entered the U.S. Navy. He served as a Fireman aboard the USS Wadsworth (DD 516) during World War II in the Pacific Theater. He was honorably discharged on April 12, 1946.

On November 30, 1946, Robert married Ida Meyers in Boise, ID. The couple made their home in the Broadland area where Robert operated a ranch/farm until 1966 when he began a 17+ year career with the Beadle County Highway Department, working as an oiler and heavy equipment operator. He retired in 1984.

He was a past member of the Broadland United Methodist Church, attended the Huron Church of the Open Bible, and was a member of the Raymond-Hart American Legion Post #84 of Hitchcock.

He was an outdoorsman who loved fishing and hunting. He enjoyed playing pinochle, watching John Wayne and Clint Eastwood western movies, reading western novels, and was a master at doing crossword puzzles. He always said that when it came to dancing he had 'two left feet', but he thoroughly loved it when one of the family would pull on his 'big toe'. He loved his grandchildren and great grandchildren dearly and prayed for them daily.

He is survived by 2 sons, Harley (Holly) Miedema of Vashon, WA, and Larry (Rosemary) Miedema of Cane Hill, Ark; 4 daughters, Nila (Tom) Potter of Faulkton, SD, Gloria Abdenbi of Fayetteville, Ark, Charlene Miedema of Pacifica, CA, and Mary (Wes) Brist of Broadland, SD; 14 grandchildren; 27 great grandchildren; 4 brothers, Bill (Carol) Miedema of South Beloit, IL, Ed (Marella) Miedema of Spearfish, SD, Claus (Pat) of Perez, MN, and Stephen (Beverly) of Springfield, SD; 2 sisters, Nellie Karnof of North Manchester, IN, and Lillian (Jim) Busch of Alpena, SD; 1 sister-in-law, Beverly Miedema of Huron, SD; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Ida on July 12, 1993; 2 brothers, James Miedema, and Clarence Miedema; 1 grandson, Benjamin Brist; 1 granddaughter, Bethany Miedema.