Rodney “Rod” Beckman, 73, of Hartford, passed away on Tuesday, September 20, 2016 at Sanford Hospital in Sioux Falls. His funeral service will begin at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, September 27, 2016 in St. Mary Catholic Church in Dell Rapids. Visitation will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, September 26, 2016 at Kahler Funeral Home. The family will be present from 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. with a rosary prayed at 7:00 p.m. On-line condolences may be left at the Kahler Funeral Home website.

Rod was born on October 24, 1942 at Duluth, MN, the son of Arnold and Wilma (Deckert) Beckman. He moved to Canistota, SD with his family as a child. He grew up on the family farm and attended country school before graduating from Canistota High School in 1958. Rod worked on farms, did custom combining, and worked with traveling carnivals. On July 7, 1979 he married Helen Eulberg in Dell Rapids. They made their home in Sioux Falls and Rod worked as a truck driver. They moved to Hartford in 1999. He quit truck driving in 2010. He has been driving a pilot car since that time.

He was a member of the Moose Lodge in Sioux Falls since 1988. His hobbies included having coffee with other truck drivers and Facebook.

He is survived by his wife, Helen of Hartford; his two brothers, Calvin (Sandra) of Myrtle Beach, SC and Eugene of Sioux Falls; his two sisters, Carol (Michael) Freese of Rapid City and Diane Walter of Traverse City, MI and many nieces and nephews.

Memorials can be directed to the charity of your choice in Rod’s name.