Darwin F. Beintema, age 87, died Monday, February 5, 2018 at Prairie View Healthcare Community in Woonsocket, SD. Memorial services will be 10:30 AM Saturday, February 10, 2018 at the Will Funeral Chapel with burial and military rites at Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will be from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Friday at the Will Funeral Chapel with a prayer service beginning at 6:00 PM. Arrangements are under the direction of the Will Funeral Chapel.

Darwin F. Beintema, son of Frank and Lakota (Lambrechts) Beintema, was born August 20, 1930 in Twin Brooks, SD. He grew up in Twin Brooks until the age of 12 when he moved with his family to Woonsocket. Darwin attended school in Woonsocket before entering the US Army. He served 20 years in the US Army, honorably discharged in 1972. While serving in the US Army, Darwin was stationed in Germany and Austria, Kansas, Korea, White Sands, New Mexico, Germany, Kentucky, Vietnam, Maryland and then another tour in Vietnam. After his discharge Darwin and Maria lived in Letcher, SD from 1972 to 2006. While in Letcher, Darwin was employed at Dakota Manufacturing for 10 years.  In 2007 they made their home in Mitchell.

Darwin was united in marriage with Maria Lichtenstern on August 2, 1958 in Schonbrunn Bavaria, Germany.

He enjoyed gardening, fishing, traveling and reading.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Maria Beintema, Mitchell, SD; one daughter, Gabriele (Dr. Robert) Snortum, Sioux Falls, SD; two grandchildren, Kristin Snortum, Omaha, NE and Rachel (Dan) Diamond, Mitchell, SD; two great grandchildren, Paige and Tanner Figland, Mitchell, SD; two brothers, Myron (Kyong) Beintema, Sioux Falls, SD and Roland "Slim" (Patty) Beintema, Sioux City, IA; one sister, Velma (Louis) Tuecke, Garnavillo, IA; a sister-in-law, Franziska (Hans) Koch, Wiesen, Austria;  nieces and nephews.

He was  preceded in death by his parents; a sister, Karen; a brother, Milo; brothers-in-law, Roland Prince, Dennis Conner, Philipp and Joseph Lichtenstern; his in-laws, Anastasia and Joseph Lichtenstern.