Ferdinand (Ferd) Risius Haberman
March 14, 1932 ~ April 21, 2018
Ferd Haberman, 86, Brandon, died Saturday, April 21, 2018, at the Sanford Ava’s Hospice House in Sioux Falls.
Visitation with family present will be 5-7PM, Tuesday, April 24, 2018, at Brandon Lutheran Church. Funeral services will begin at 10:30AM, Wednesday, April 25, at Brandon Lutheran Church with Full Military Honors. Interment will follow at Memorial Gardens, Worthington, MN.
Ferdinand (Ferd) Risuis Haberman, son of Frank and Margreta (Ebbinga) Haberman, was born on March 14, 1932 in Slayton, MN. He grew up on the family farm northeast of Avoca, MN and attended country school until 1944. Ferd moved off the family farm and completed 7th and 8th grades at Avoca Public School. He then continued his education in Slayton, graduating from high school in 1950.
Ferd worked construction and for various farmers during the summer months and enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1951. He served in Strategic Air Command as a jet engine diagnostic technician. Ferd served two tours of duty in the Far East during the Korean War and attained the rank of Staff Sergeant. During high school, he was an accomplished Golden Gloves boxer and continued boxing throughout his time in the service. Ferd was honorably discharged in February 1956. He became engaged to Elaine Dierks in 1951, shortly after he was inducted into the Air Force. They were united in marriage on July 5, 1953 while at home on military leave. Their first home was on Turner Air Force Base in Albany, GA. Their son, Irvin, was born in March, 1955 at the base hospital. After Ferd was discharged in 1956, they moved to Fulda, MN where they lived for 10 years. Their oldest daughter, Sharon, was born in October, 1964. They moved to Heron Lake, MN in 1967 where their youngest child, Kristine, was born in February, 1970. They moved to Brandon, SD in February, 1976. While living in Fulda, Ferd worked for John Deere as a bookkeeper, repair and parts technician, and in sales. In Heron Lake, he managed Occidental (OXY) Chemical Company preparing crop plans as well as selling fertilizer and chemicals. Ferd finished his career selling agricultural equipment for Simonsen Industries until his retirement in 2007. Throughout his life, Ferd had a strong faith in Christ, was active in church, enjoyed playing golf, watching sports, playing his guitar, and woodworking. Along with his children and grandchildren, Ferd’s greatest love was his wife. He will always be remembered for his gentle spirit, kindness, love and devotion to family.
Ferd will be sincerely missed by his two daughters, Sharon Johansen, Brandon, and Kris (Jeff) Tietz, New Prague, MN; three grandchildren, Ava, Audrey and Cooper; one sister, Grace Peterson, Clear Lake, IA; and many nieces, nephews and cousins.
Ferd is preceded in death by his wife, one son and parents; sister, Margaret Haberman; half-brothers,
Raymond Haberman, Paul Krier, Herman Haberman; half-sisters, Paulina “Lena” Stumm and Elsie
Touhey; and son-in-law, Robert (BJ) Johansen.
Sharon and family, so sorry to hear of your dad’s passing. May God be with you and help you to keep the good memories going to help you through your time of loss.