Rodney Glidewell

Rodney Neil Glidewell was born on August 17, 1939 to Buryl and Loretta (Farwick) Glidewell in Pipestone, Minnesota. He was baptized as an infant at St. Leo Catholic Church in Pipestone. As a child, Rod enjoyed fishing and helping out on the family farm. He was also a member of 4-H. He attended country school through the 7th grade and then attended school in Pipestone, graduating from Pipestone High School in 1957. Rod began farming with his father in 1956. After high school, Rod joined the United States Army National Guard where he served for six years. He did his basic training at Fort Jackson in South Carolina, serving in Georgia, Alaska and Fort Ripley, Minnesota. On April 16, 1966, he was united in marriage to Carol Bedow at St. Leo Catholic Church in Pipestone. Rod grew up and lived on the family farm his entire life. In addition to working on the farm, Rod worked at the Town and Country Locker in the 1980s. He later worked at Ellison Meats, and also drove truck for Winter Concrete. Rod retired from farming in 2000. He continued to work part time driving truck for Double D Gravel, Vis Farms, and CPS (Crop Production Services). After suffering a stroke recently, Rod’s health declined and he passed away on Thursday, December 6, 2018 at the Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, South Dakota at the age of 79 years, three months, and 19 days.

Rod was a member of Christ the King Free Lutheran Church in Pipestone. He was active there making lefse yearly, helping sew quilts (lots and lots of quilts) for Salvation Army, Good Samaritan Society, and other places with the Chatter Quilter's church group. He also ushered for many services and funerals. Rod had a lifelong passion for archeology but stayed on the family farm to help his father. He loved to plant things – flowers, berries, vegetables, anything that would grow. He enjoyed making homemade bread, target shooting, and hunting and fishing. He liked to watch the Minnesota Vikings play. Most of all, he loved watching his grandchildren play, and enjoyed going to their concerts and school activities.

Rod is lovingly remembered by his wife of 52 years, Carol of Pipestone; three children, Lynn Glidewell of Pipestone, Scot Glidewell of Ruthton, Minnesota, and Ryan (Heather) Glidewell of Lennox, South Dakota; six grandchildren, Calina of Osterholz-Scharmbeck, Germany, Hannah of Rosemount, Minnesota, Selah of Gent, Belgium, Seth of Lennox, South Dakota, Aleigha of Lennox, and Garret of Ruthton. He was preceded in death by his parents, Buryl and Loretta; and one brother, Larry Glidewell.