Alfred Vliem, age 89 of Lodgepole, passed away on Friday morning, June 6, 2014 at his home southeast of Lodgepole, SD.

The Funeral Service for Alfred will be held at 10:30am Monday, June 9, 2014 at the Holland Center Christian Reformed Church southwest of Lodgepole. Pastor Brad Burkhalter will officiate with burial in the Holland Center Cemetery.

Serving as casketbearers are Darryl Kooiman, Darwin Huiner, Jerry Vliem, Emmett Vliem, Jon LeFebre, and Scott Zimmermann. All of Alfred's family and friends are considered Honorary Bearers.

ALFRED VLIEM "Alf" and his twin brother Albert were born on August 5, 1924 in Perkins County, SD near Lodgepole. Alfred was the sixth of eight children born to Gerrit and Jennie (Beld) Vliem. He attended Beeler School near his home and at an early age began helping his father on the farm.

On June 21, 1948, he married his soul mate, Betty LaDue at the Holland Center Parsonage. In 1949, they purchased a farm south of Lodgepole where they continued farming and ranching together. They were blessed with five children, Kathy, Donna, Harold, Doug, and Dave.

Alfred sold the farm in 1994 and retired, but they continued to live on the place. He was an avid farmer/rancher and kept busy helping George Anderson and Rod LeFebre. Alfred lived his entire life in the Lodgepole area. Alf and Betty enjoyed almost 66 years of marriage spending time with family and doing some traveling. He was very happy he was able to live the rest of his life on the farm.
He was a member of the Holland Center Christian Reformed Church, and for 50 years was a member of the Holland Center Quartet. Later on he sang with the Borderline Singers.

Alf enjoyed life to the fullest with his wife, Betty, Lodgepole, SD; and their children, Kathy (Loy) Willson, Osborne, KS; Donna (Paul) Gray, Rock Springs, WY; Harold Vliem, Wichita, KS; Doug Vliem, Cheyenne, WY; and Dave (Cyndi) Vliem, Gillette, WY; 9 grandchildren, 6 great grandchildren; 2 sisters, Gertrude Kooiman, Prairie City, SD; Henrietta LeFebre, Lodgepole, SD; and 1 brother, Albert (Dorothy) Vliem, Lodgepole, SD; numerous nieces and nephews including a special nice, Barb Stadheim for all her love and care.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and 4 brothers, Art, Frank, Harold, and Jim Vliem; and 1 granddaughter, Kristi Vliem.

Memorials may be sent to the charity of the donors choice.

Viewing will be held on Sunday from 12:00noon to 5:00 at the Centennial Chapel of the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Hettinger.