October 24, 1939 ~ August 8, 2025
Marvin “Marv” D. Veldkamp, 85, Brandon, SD, passed away on Friday, August 8, 2025, while under hospice care at Bethany Home in Brandon. Marv went to be with his Lord and Savior at the age of 85 years, 9 months, and 15 days.
A Visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, at Heartland Funeral Home in Brandon. A Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at Brandon Valley Assembly of God in Brandon. Interment will follow at the Hills of Rest Mausoleum, Sioux Falls. To watch the service live, click HERE.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to Samaritan’s Purse.
Marvin Duane Veldkamp was born on October 24, 1939, on a farm just southwest of Valley Springs, SD, to Arend and Angie (Achterhoff) Veldkamp. Marv started school in Valley Springs. He later went to school in Hills, MN, but after his father died, he, along with his mom and siblings, moved to a farm near Chandler, MN. While at Chandler, he attended a country school near there through 8th grade. He attended his freshman year at Chandler High School before grandma sold the farm and moved to Luverne, MN.
While living in Luverne, Marv worked for a local farmer, had jobs with a veterinarian, and drove a milk truck, hauling milk to Luverne Creamery. He was a member of the American Reformed Church in Luverne, MN, and it was at the church youth group that he met Leona Hoff. Marv and Leona were united in marriage on June 10, 1958. To this union, two daughters were born. The couple made their home near Luverne initially, but then lived in Baltic, Garretson, and eventually settled in Brandon in 1970.
Marv and Leona (Lee) purchased their own business, Marv’s Milk Route, in the very early 1960’s, which is when they moved to Baltic. The milk route was in the Dell Rapids area, and he hauled can milk to the Dell Rapids Creamery. When the Dells Creamery closed, he hauled milk to Sioux Valley Milk in Sioux Falls (initially can milk, and later he hauled bulk).
In March of 1971, Marv and Lee purchased a garbage route in Sioux Falls. Marv thoroughly enjoyed hauling milk and the relationships he formed with his customers and their families but liked the idea of having Sundays and holidays off. His new business would allow him to still have his own business and truck but also allow for working “only” six days a week. Marv was always quick to credit Lee with being right beside him in every aspect of work, life, and fun. Marv and Lee worked as a team, Marv doing all the route work, while Lee took care of the billing and much of the bookwork.
Marv always enjoyed visiting with people and liked to pull little pranks. He always enjoyed telling people about his large family of siblings. He would tell people he was from a family of “6 ½ dozen kids”. He would then smirk as he watched them multiply the numbers in their head in disbelief and then he would say, “six plus ½ dozen (12)”.
Marv played fastpitch softball for a number of years but retired from that when his girls got to junior and senior high age. He then switched from playing fastpitch to coaching. He coached girls’ softball (ages 13-15 or 16-18) from 1974-1981. In addition to coaching softball, Marv was on the Brandon Volunteer Fire Department for 20 years, a Gideon, and served at his church as a Deacon, an Elder and the Sunday School Superintendent at various times in his life.
After the girls were grown, Marv and Lee enjoyed going to Southern Gospel Concerts. Each fall, they enjoyed attending the National Quartet Convention in Louisville, KY (and later Pigeon Forge, TN) where they would reunite with many friends, as well as attend and enjoy concerts for the week.
Grateful for having shared in Marv’s life are his two daughters, Lori (Tom) Wilford, Brandon, SD, and their children, Gerrit (Melissa) Wilford, Chicago, IL, and Grace Wilford, Pierre, SD; Ladelle (Jim) Dwyer, Windermere, FL, and her children, Rebekah Larson, Orlando, FL, Micah (Peyton) Larson, Orlando, FL, and their daughters, Avery and Riley, and daughter-in-law, Halie Larson, Orlando, FL, and her children, Noah, Elliot, and Hollis, and Ladelle’s step-sons, Brady Dwyer, Orlando, FL, and Brock Dwyer, Myrtle Beach, SC. Marv is also survived by his sisters, Grace (Lou) Charette, and Arlene (Norman) Haak; and brother, Alvin (Shirley) Veldkamp; and two sisters-in-law, Frances Veldkamp, and Hendrene Veldkamp Van Wyhe; as well as many nieces and nephews on both the Veldkamp and Hoff sides of the family.
Marv was preceded in death by his wife of almost 65 years, Leona, in March 2023; son-in-law, Scott Larson; grandson, Jared Larson; his parents, Arend and Angie Veldkamp; parents-in-law, Gerrit and Minnie Hoff; sisters, Alice (Al) Van Hill and Clazina (Hank) Van Wyhe; brothers, Bert (Joyce) Mike (Caroline), Jim, and Arnie; and brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Grace (Chris) Van Wyhe, Arthur Hoff, Geraldine (John) Gorter, and Alvina (Don) Christoffels.
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