Eugene Fristad, age 82, of Mt. Vernon, SD died Friday, December 27, 2019 at Avera Brady Health and Rehab in Mitchell, SD. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM Friday, January 3, 2020 at Storla Lutheran Church in Storla, SD with burial at Trinity Cemetery in rural Letcher, SD. Visitation will be from 5:00 PM to 7:00 PM Thursday, January 2, 2020 at the Will Funeral Chapel in Mitchell with a prayer service at 6:30 PM.

Eugene Fristad, son of Richard and Lelia (Strand) Fristad, was born November 6, 1937 in Mitchell, SD. He grew up on the family farm and attended country school. He graduated from Mt. Vernon High School and attended South Dakota School of Mines for a year and a half. At this time he decided he would rather sit on a tractor than in an office. Eugene served in the South Dakota National Guard from 1959 to 1965.

Eugene was united in marriage with Mary Hall on November 25, 1966 in Mitchell, SD. Eugene farmed in rural Mt. Vernon his entire life.

He was a member of Storla Lutheran Church where he taught Sunday school for 35 years and did the blueprints for the church sculpture at the front of the sanctuary. He served in various positions on the church council. Eugene also served on the Blendon Township Board and the Firemen's Board.

Eugene was chosen by the Mitchell Jaycee's in 1970 as "Outstanding Young Farmer" of Davison County. In 1991, he was selected by Commercial Bank in the category of farmer in the "Sharing New Horizons" program.

He admired the accomplishments of his children and grandchildren, and enjoyed attending ballgames, especially when his children played.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Mary Fristad, Mt. Vernon, SD; two children, Pamela Fristad and her friend Frank Wells, Mitchell, SD, Monte (Heather) Fristad, Mt. Vernon, SD; three grandsons, Matthew Fristad (his fiance, Sam Goodier), Mitchell, SD, Sutton Fristad, Mt. Vernon, SD and Austin Rearick, Mt. Vernon, SD; a sister, Ilene (Verne) Carpenter, Colorado Springs, CO; two brothers, David (Nancy) Fristad, Vivian, SD, Kalen (Darlene) Fristad, Dows, IA; a sister-in-law, Elva (Dennis) Engelhart, Puyallup, WA and a brother-in-law, Dennis (Mag) Hall, Lake Stevens, WA.

Eugene was preceded in death by his parents, Richard and Lelia Fristad; in-laws, Marion and Leona Hall; two brothers, Vincent (died in infancy) and Verlon Fristad; two sisters, Joyce (and Harold) Peterson, and Dorothy (and Kenneth) Lane.

In Lieu of flowers, memorials will go to the Storla Lutheran Church or Trinity Cemetery Association.