Robert Craig Heldenbrand, 57, died Sunday, March 30, 2014, at the Southridge Healthcare Center. A memorial service will begin at 1:00 PM on Thursday, April 3, 2014, at George Boom Funeral Home in Sioux Falls. Condolences may be left at www.georgeboom.com
Robert Craig Heldenbrand was born on May 12th, 1956 in Hawthorne, CA to Sharon (Woodham) and Boyd Heldenbrand. He attended grade school in California and Patrick Henry Junior High in Sioux Falls, SD and graduated from Lincoln High School in 1974.
Craig enlisted in the United States Marine Corp in 1976 and completed his basic training at Camp Lejeune in North Carolina. He achieved the rank of Lance Corporal. He served at Camp Pendleton in California until 1980.
While in the military Craig studied mechanical engineering. Craig attended Augustana College in Sioux Falls, pursuing a degree in architecture. He worked at Luverne Truck Equipment Inc. in Brandon, SD as a night supervisor.
Music held a special place in Craig’s life. He was a member of the Medicine Creek Band in Blunt, SD. He also performed with Native Soul in Sioux Falls, SD.
His hobbies included music, taxidermy, art, hunting, fishing, motorcycles, racing, brewing beer and collecting beer cans. He was a member of the American Legion.
He was preceded in death by his father, Boyd Heldenbrand, his maternal grandfather, and his paternal grandparents.
Craig is survived by his wife, Tammy Hector of Valley Springs, SD; daughter Bobbi (Dustin) Dandurand of Coolidge, AZ; stepdaughter Kayla Hector of Valley Springs, SD; mother Sharon Heldenbrand-Halbersma (Lawrence) of Brandon, SD; mother-in-law Jane Boneschans of Sioux Falls, SD; grandchildren Hayli and Jackson Dandurand and Keegan Hector; brothers, Lance (Rose) Heldenbrand of Dell Rapids, SD; Walt Heldenbrand of Sioux Falls, SD; Les (Stacey) Heldenbrand of Hartford, SD; sister Lori (Jim) Pfannes of Guadalupita, NM; grandmother, Thelma Woodham of Sioux Falls, SD; aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, nephews and many friends.