Silas DeWayne Hatlestad

Silas D. Hatlestad, age 87, of Willmar and formerly of Sunburg, passed away Saturday, July 12, at Prairie Senior Cottages in Willmar.

Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on Saturday, July 19, at Hope Lutheran Church in Sunburg. Interment will be at West Norway Lake Lutheran Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5-7 p.m. on Friday, July 18, at Hope Lutheran Church and will continue for one hour prior to the service on Saturday. Arrangements are entrusted to the Peterson Brothers Sunburg Funeral Home. www.petersonbrothers.com

Silas DeWayne Hatlestad was born on July 24,1937, in Colfax Township, Kandiyohi County, Minnesota, to Selmer and Bernice (Rasmusson) Hatlestad. Silas was baptized and confirmed at the First Lutheran Church of New London. He attended rural Kandiyohi County School Districts #13 and #95. In 1955, Silas began working as a heavy equipment operator for Huebner Construction of New London and enjoyed that work for many years.

Silas was united in marriage to Darla Sisco on April 23,1971, their marriage of 54 years was blessed with a family of seven children. Silas and Darla raised their family in Sunburg and were deeply committed to supporting the community. They became owner-operators of Sunburg Oil Company operating that business until 1988. Silas then returned to the construction business as a heavy equipment operator, working for Riley Brothers Construction out of Morris, MN. He also owned and operated snowplows plowing roads for the Kandiyohi County Highway Department and several area townships. Silas put in many long, hard days of work before he retired in 2004. After retirement he enjoyed blading township roads for Ulfert Blading & Carlson Blading.

Silas was active in the Sunburg community serving as the Fire Chief of the Sunburg Fire Department for many years and was instrumental in starting the Sunburg Rescue Squad. He also helped construct the beloved Sunburg baseball diamond which has been a treasured place full of great games and memories for the community. Silas was a long-time member of Hope Lutheran Church and served as an usher.

Silas and Darla enjoyed dancing at many different dance halls, spending time with family and friends at the lake in the summer and snowmobiling in the winter. He was proud to raise his family in the Sunburg community where he was born and raised. The family enjoyed many wonderful years at their homestead just outside of Sunburg that they lovingly referred to as “Hope Wood Acres” where Silas enjoyed the area wildlife, particularly the deer and birds, and tinkering around in his shop.

Silas spent the last 4½ year of his life at Prairie Senior Cottages, Willmar, MN. The family extends their deepest gratitude to all the staff who provided loving, heartfelt care to Silas. The family is forever grateful. Silas will be dearly missed by family and friends.

He is survived by his loving wife, Darla; five children, Scott (and Robin) Hatlestad of Montevideo, Brian (and Robyn) Hatlestad of Kerkhoven, Yvette (and Scott) Rajewsky of Murdock, Wayne (and Jill) Hatlestad of Hutchinson and Brent Hatlestad of Sunburg; one daughter-in-law, Terri Hoff of Alexandria; eleven grandchildren, Kristie (and Otis) Collins, Craig (and Heidi) Hatlestad, Brenna (and Shane) Pedersen, Rylan (and Abby) Hoff, Nicolle (and Paul) Schlosser, Emily (and Lindsey) Gonsior, Skyler (and Kirsten) Rajewsky, Abby Hatlestad, Alec Hatlestad and Sadie Hatlestad; nine great grandchildren; and a sister-in-law, Mary Hatlestad of Kerkhoven; besides other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two sons, Bradley Hatlestad and John Hoff; one grandson, Jeffrey Hatlestad and one brother, Leland Hatlestad.