Gale M. Vetter, 69, Hartley

Visitation and fellowship to celebrate the life of Gale M. Vetter was held Monday, Nov. 9, 2020, at the Hartley Funeral Home Chapel in Hartley.

Honorary pallbearers were Jim Waggoner, Dennis Ahrenstorff, Rodney Ahrenstorff, Robert Ahrenstorff, Jim Klinker and Ray Bates. A private burial will take place at a later date. Hartley Funeral Home assisted with the arrangements.

Gale Marlin Vetter was born to Marlin and Ruth (Ahrenstorff) Vetter on Sept. 13, 1951, in Hartley at the Hand Hospital. The middle of three children, he was raised on a farm north of Hartley and attended Hartley High School. After graduation he moved two miles south of the home place and started farming with his dad. When his parents moved to town, he moved back to his childhood home and farmed the ground for the next 45 years.

On Valentine’s Day 1980, Gale was united in marriage to Sandeanne Linder. They were married for 32 years and made their home on the Vetter family farm. From this union two children were born: Shanna Marie in 1982 and Colby Robert in 1986. Gale kept busy farming, driving school bus to many of his children’s school activities, and in his later years was a member of the Hartley Ambulance team. He also loved to hunt deer and pheasant, fish on “the River” at Chamberlain, S.D., and partake in happy hour with his good friend, Jim. He was a free spirit and enjoyed living his life to the fullest. He will be remembered for his kindness, gentle spirit and generosity.

Gale passed away on Wednesday, Nov. 4, 2020, from complications of COVID-19 at the age of 69 years, one month and 22 days.

He is lovingly remembered by his two children: Shanna (Dan) Tadic, of Sandpoint, Idaho; and Colby (Shonda) Vetter, of Hartley; his four grandchildren: Trevor and Katia Tadic, and Adelia and Oaklei Vetter. He will also be remembered by his two siblings: Becky (Wally) Tschopp, of Spirit Lake; and Gary (Dawn) Vetter of St. Charles; his special friend, Lori Van Veldhuizen; and nieces, nephews and many cousins.

He was preceded in death by his spouse, Sandeanne in 2012; his mother and father, and his mother-in-law and father-in-law.