William “Bill” Vander Brink
December 5, 1938 ~ September 12, 2020
William “Bill” Vander Brink, 81, Sioux Falls, died Saturday, September 12, 2020, at the Sanford Centennial Cottage in Sioux Falls.
There are no services planned at this time.
William Vander Brink, son of Heiman and Everdena Vander Brink, was born on December 5, 1938, in Chandler, Minnesota. As the 10th of 13 children, William was raised in Chandler, Minnesota where he completed his education through 8th grade. William went on to lend his helpful hands-on farmlands.
On April 21, 1960, William married the love of his life, Ramona DeKing, at Holy Redeemer Catholic Church in Marshall, Minnesota. After their marriage, William continued to work for various farmers in the area. They joyfully welcomed their only child, Douglas Vander Brink, on May 29, 1961. The couple longed for California’s climate and made the major move from Minnesota in 1966.
Once in California, William cultivated his career in the oil industry as a production welder on drill bits through various companies including Smith Tool. However, when Smith Tool relocated to Oklahoma, William took the opportunity to fully enjoy the California sun by spending his final working days at the famous Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Cypress, California.
Shortly after retirement, the couple said goodbye to the great weather in California to be closer to their son, daughter-in-law and grandchildren in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
No matter where William was, he happily had fun with his hobbies of fishing, camping, and motorcycling. He especially enjoyed expeditions on ocean charter fishing boats in hopes of reeling in his favorite fish – the rock cod. He also sweetly shared his passions and skills with his grandchildren who fondly remember practicing casting on the school playground. He was elated to be there when the grandchildren caught their first bucket full of bullheads.
Clean chrome and classic cars were also cherished throughout his life. In the 60’s and 70’s, he could usually be found at the dragstrip. He would never allow eating in his cars, but his cars were so clean you could eat off the engine.
Bill will be deeply missed by his wife, Ramona, Sioux Falls; one son, Doug (Lori) Vander Brink, Sioux Falls; two granddaughters, Samantha (Adam) Small, Sioux Falls, and Jennifer (Dustin) Hanisch, Worthing; and three great-grandchildren, Veronica, Keaton, and Brooke; one brother, John (Darlene) Vander Brink, Downey, California; four sisters, Sarah Gieselman, Dubuque, Iowa, Dena Kokot, Tuscan, Arizona, Audrey Vander Sluice, Banning, California, and Bertha (Eusebio) Carranza, Dover, Delaware.
William was preceded in death by his parents, Heiman and Everdena Vander Brink, and five brothers, Leo Vander Brink, Henry Vander Brink, Herman Vander Brink, Chris Vander Brink, and Cornie Vander Brink, and one sister, Gertrude Vander Brink.
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