Funeral services for Eddie Bierwagen, age 87, of Lemmon, SD, will be held at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, June 23, 2014 at the New Hope Worship Center in Lemmon. Pastor Bob James will officiate with burial to follow in the Greenhill Cemetery in Lemmon.

Edwin Roland Bierwagen "Eddie" was born on October 14, 1926, near Bentley, ND in rural Grant County to Michael "Mike" and Helen (Baesler) Bierwagen. He grew up on the farm southeast of Bentley and attended rural schools in Grant County. At a young age, he began working with his father on the farm.

He was united in marriage to Pauline Wolfe on October 10, 1944. They purchased his family's farm and lived there until moving to Lemmon in 1951. Eddie continued to farm and also began working at a service station in Lemmon. They later purchased the station and operated it as Eddie's HiWay Service. He also went into the plumbing business with his brother-in-law working as Lemmon Plumbing and Heating.

In 1970, Eddie started working for the South Dakota Department of Transportation in the Highway Maintenance Division. He retired in 1989, but continued to farm. Eddie enjoyed raising a garden of vegetables and flowers, as well as maintaining a lovely yard. During the winter months Eddie enjoyed traveling with Pauline to Arizona, Oregon, and other places.

Eddie was an active member of the Lemmon Church of God since 1947. He served on the Church Council for many years. He was also on the building committee of the Prairie Hills Church of God, served as a trustee and usher, taught Sunday school, and was involved with the Lay Evangelism Program for several years. Eddie also served on the Lemmon City Council and the HUD Board. He also assisted at Evanson Jensen Funeral Home's for a short time.

Eddie was preceded in death by Pauline on February 10, 2000. Later, he married Mary Davis on May 20, 2001 in Wichita, Kansas. They made their home in Lemmon.

In August of 2013, Eddie entered the Five Counties Nursing Home in Lemmon. Eddie passed away on Thursday morning, June 19, 2014 at the St. Alexius Medical Center in Bismarck, ND.

He is survived by his wife, Mary Bierwagen, Billings, MT; daughter, Faye (Dennis) Batson, Roseburg, OR; two sons, Clif (Jan), Gilbert, AZ and Ron (Dorene), Lemmon, SD; six grandchildren; three great-grandchildren. The marriage of Eddie and Mary brought step-children, Tommie (Rita) Davis, Wichita, KS; Ila (Arlan) Swanson, Billings, MT; Debbie (Eldron) Boehmer, Culpepper, VA; and Michael Davis, Wichita, KS. There are 14 step-grandchildren and 37 step great-grandchildren.

Eddie was preceded in death by a sister in infancy; his parents; his first wife, Pauline in 2000; a sister, Anna Zimbleman; one brother, Otto Bierwagen; a daughter-in-law, Darlene Bierwagen; a great grandson, Kyle Winfrey.

Visitation will be on Sunday, June 22, 2014 from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon.

A memorial has been established.