Delbert Hodson

Delbert Dwayne Hodson, age 88, died December 31, 2021, at Avantara Arlington Care Center in Arlington SD. Services will be held at the Johnson – Henry Funeral Home in Arlington SD details pending.

Del was born on March 11, 1933, on his family farm in Ipswich, SD to Delbert E. and Anna Laura (Riley) Hodson.  He attended public school in Ipswich, SD.  He was a strong advocate for education and was always doing research on the computer.  It was his lifelong passion to have a college degree.  He received his GED later in life and went on to college at Black Hills State in Spearfish, SD.  He studied Art and Psychology. He was extremely proud to graduate from BHS Summa Cum Laude (Baccalaureate) with Highest Honor in May of 1994.  He was 61 years old.

Del was also a veteran. He was in the Air Force 1951 and in 1955, after serving for 4 years he was medically discharged due to rheumatic fever.  During his time in the service, he was an aircraft mechanic and worked on jets. He was stationed out of Wichita, Kansas and Amarillo, Texas. He was so proud to be a veteran and an American.

For the most of his career he worked in sales but he was a woodworker at heart.  After his retirement he started his own business called Gramp’s Toy Shack.  He designed and made wooden toys and traveled around the state attending craft shows.  During his wood working years he sold thousands of tractors, trucks, cars and rubber band guns.  He loved to see the faces of the kids when they walked away with one of his toys.

His favorite hobbies were camping, hunting, fishing, going to movies, wood working and sporting events.  He had the gift for gab, loved visiting with people and was always quick to pull a joke out of his hat.

He was survived by his children Debbie (Tom) Schufeldt of Ludowicci, GA, Sheri (Tim) Heinz of Brookings, SD, Ronna (Dave) Varns of Lake Wilson, MN, and Danny (Bev) Hodson of Sioux Falls, Terry Craig of Wichita, KS and step daughter Elaine Vind of Peoria AZ. His grandchildren Benjamin Harsh, Jonathan (Regina) Harsh, Laura Keck & Nick Harsh, Philip (Kelly) Heinz, Angela Nash, and Trevor (Alyssa) Heinz, Jason Hodson, Sharai Garcia, and James (Danika) Adams, Angela (Bret) Gnirk, Staci (Mike) Fall, Jarron (John) Cooper, Jarrod (Bethany) Craig, Alicia Paris and 32 great grandchildren. His brother-in-law Orin Scandrett.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Lavon (Harsh) Hodson, Bette Hodson, mother of his children, sister Donna Scandrett, and grandson Tanner Nash.

In lieu of flowers you may also donate to Wounded Warriors or St. Jude Childrens Research Hospital.