Wilson Bamesberger

Wilson was born on January 23, 1934 at Lowry, South Dakota, the son of Christ and Matilda (Helm) Bamesberger.

After he completed his schooling, Wilson began farming. In 1956, he entered the US Army and later, the South Dakota National Guard, and served until he was discharged in 1962. Wilson returned to farming and ranching near Selby, South Dakota.

Wilson married Cathy Hess on October 21, 1972 in Brookings and they lived on Wilson’s farm. They adopted and raised two sibling boys from Seoul, Korea. Along with his farm work, Wilson was an active community and church member. He served on the boards of the Farmers Exchange, the Walworth County Farm Bureau and the Selby School District. Wilson was baptized at the Pilgrim Congregational Church in Lowry and was a member until 1992. He had served as a deacon, a Sunday school teacher and sang in the choir. He was a firefighter with the Lowry Volunteer Fire Department for many years. After 20 years together on the farm, Wilson and Cathy moved to Sioux Falls in 1992.

They were members of Abiding Savior Free Lutheran Church in Sioux Falls and served as a deacon and on the finance board. He and Cathy then became founding members of the Living Word Free Lutheran Church.

Wilson was 89 years old when he passed away on October 26, 2023 at the Inn on Westport, Sioux Falls.

He is survived by his sons and daughters-in-law, Jim and Sonya of Seatle, WA and Alan and Felicia of Fountain, CO; six grandsons, three granddaughters and six great grandchildren; four siblings, Lee Bamesberger, Luella Miller, Colleen Bieber and Carol Harris. He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Cathy in 2021; and a brother, Harlan.