James Deiter, age 81, left this life on Tuesday, December 8th at his home in Howard Lake, Minnesota. With him were Nancy, his wife of over 58 years and other family.
He was born in Redfield, South Dakota on June 19, 1939 to Clarence and Malinda Deiter. Raised on a farm near Frankfort, South Dakota, he attended the Rosebud school through 8th grade. His high school years were spent in Frankfort where he graduated in 1957.
In 1961 he moved to Benson Minnesota where he met Nancy Dokken, his wife to be. They married in 1962 spending the next 7 years on the family farm near Frankfort. During those years, Robin and William were born.
In 1969 they moved to Minnesota where they remained the rest of his life. A son Jason was born in 1973 and for the last 42 years they lived in Howard Lake.
“Jim” worked for Eaton Corporation in Eden Prairie for 32 years, retiring in 2001. His favorite hobbies were fishing, hunting and country music. He taught himself to play a guitar and passed it on to his children. His greatest pleasure was his family and he worked his whole life to care for them.
Preceded in death by his parents, Clarence and Malinda Deiter, sister Marian West, parents-in-law Garfield and Jonnette Dokken and his sister-in-law Gretchen Hellie. He is survived by his widow, Nancy, his children, Robin, William(Carol), and Jason(Sheri). He is further survived by grandchildren Dana Deiter, Jeremiah Smith, Ellie Deiter, Chase Deiter, Sabrina Hill and Joseph Hill, 9 great grandchildren, 5 great-great-grandchildren and several nieces, nephews and cousins.
A memorial service will be held on Monday, December 14th at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Howard Lake beginning at 11am. Visitiation at 10am. Internment will be in the spring at Greenlawn Cemetery in Redfield, SD near his parents. Memorials may be directed to Ridgeview Hospice or the music department at St. John‘s Lutheran Church of Howard Lake, MN. The family was served by Swanson-Peterson Funeral Homes of Howard Lake.