Arden Gale Hammerstrom

The Homegoing service for Arden Hammerstrom, 68, of Minneota, MN, will be held on Wednesday, May 12, 2021, at 11:00 am at First Baptist Church in Marshall, MN, with visitation one hour prior to the service. A recording of the service will be available later at www.horvathfuneralservice.com. A public visitation will be held on Tuesday, May 11 from 5-7 pm at the Horvath Remembrance Center in Marshall, MN. Interment will follow the service at Arlington Cemetery in Arlington, SD. Mask and social distancing requirements will be observed at all indoor services.

Arden Gale Hammerstrom was born on February 13, 1953, in Sioux Falls, SD, to Alvin and Delores (Johnson) Hammerstrom. He grew up in Chancellor, SD on a dairy and grain farm. As a child he attended First Baptist Church in Chancellor, SD, where he accepted Christ as his Lord and Savior and was baptized. Arden attended Ashlawn District 89 country school through the 8th grade. He then attended and graduated from Lennox High School in 1971. While in high school, Arden was actively involved in basketball, baseball, football, track and field, chorus, and band. After graduating he worked on the family farm for several years.

On April 5, 1975, Arden was united in marriage to Renae Knutson in Oldham, SD. He attended technical college in Mitchell, SD to become a lineman. Arden’s 40-year career with Ottertail Power Company started in Ellendale, ND, and moved them to Oakes, ND, before settling in Minneota, MN, where he lived and raised his family for 41 years. He served the communities of Minneota, Ghent, Taunton, Green Valley, and Milroy.

Arden loved learning new things and occupied his free time with activities such as woodworking, fishing, wildlife and landscape photography, cooking, and baking. He loved taking long rides, feeding birds, and visiting with local friends. He was an active member of First Baptist Church in Marshall, MN, where he served as deacon, Sunday school teacher, usher, and children’s ministry helper.

Arden went to be with the Lord unexpectedly on Tuesday, May 4, 2021. He is survived by his daughters Ivy (Steve) Santopietro, April (Nathan) Getz, and Amanda (Luke) Hilgeman, grandchildren: Jana, Sadie and Kate Santopietro, and Reed and Jackson Hilgeman, siblings: Sheryl Korsch, Lynn Hammerstrom, and Kevin (Sara) Hammerstrom. He was preceded in death by his parents Alvin and Delores Hammerstrom and his wife of 37 years, Renae.