Charles "Chuck" A. Valberg

Charles "Chuck" A. Valberg, age 82, of Watertown, SD, passed away on Saturday, July 6, 2024, at a local care center.  Funeral services will be at 1:00 p.m. on Tuesday, July 16, 2024, at Hosanna Lutheran Church in Watertown.  Pastor Janine Rew-Werling and Pastor Craig Werling will officiate. 

Visitation will be at Hosanna Lutheran Church in Watertown on Monday, July 15, 2024, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m.

Burial will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Watertown.  Active pallbearers will be Megan Brown, Parker Brown, Allison Eickmeyer, Mason German, Bjorn Valberg, and Alex Davids.

Charles Alan Valberg was born March 15, 1942 to Leiv and Stella (Ohnstad) Valberg in Watertown, SD. He contracted polio as an infant, which left him with a lifelong limp. It slowed him down a little, but it didn't define him or stop him.  Growing up in rural Henry, SD, he graduated from Henry High School in 1960.  While attending Augustana College he reconnected with Janice Olson of Summit, SD, whom he had first met when they were five years old and were ring bearer and flower girl at a wedding.  They were married August 1, 1965, at Lebanon Lutheran Church in rural Ortley, SD. To this union two children were born, daughter Angela and son Erik.

Chuck held a variety of jobs while working his way through college and in the first years of marriage ranging from bus driver to radio disc jockey and furniture sales. He started working with computers at Milbank Mutual Insurance and eventually landed at Western Area Power Administration (WAPA) in Watertown in 1975. He served in several roles there including programmer, Director of Power Billing, and computer specialist until his retirement in 2004.

Chuck had a beautiful singing voice, often being asked to sing for weddings as a young man. He sang in church choirs for over 50 years before his pulmonary issues forced him to stop in 2018.

He enjoyed fishing and boating. He spent countless hours and gallons of gas pulling the kids and their friends on skis and tubes during their high school and college years.  He also loved farming and took vacation time each fall to help brother-in-law, Jerry, with harvest.

After retiring he commented that he didn't know how he'd had time to work. He was active in the Lions Club, local NARFE chapter, and Sons of Norway as well as attending Bible studies and coffee with friends.

Chuck was proud of his Norwegian heritage and loved lefse, lutefisk, and Ole & Lena jokes.  He was very witty, always ready with a joke or funny comeback. If he didn't give you grief, he probably didn't like you.

Kidding aside, he loved his Lord and Savior. During these last hard months, he enjoyed watching the sunrise from his window and commented he didn't understand how someone could look at that and not see God. While unable to attend worship in person for over a year, he treasured being able to join in worship via the Hosanna livestream.

Grateful for having shared his life, Chuck is survived by Jan, his wife of nearly 59 years; daughter Angie (Dave) Eickmeyer of Watertown; son Erik (Bonnie) Valberg of Cedar Rapids, IA; grandchildren Megan (Parker) Brown, Allison Eickmeyer (Mason German), and Bjorn Valberg; sisters Carolyn (John) West, Linda (Randy) Rakness both of Watertown;  brother Larry (Viviane) Valberg of Circle Pines, MN; brothers-in-law Jerry (Ann) Olson of Watertown, Brian (Pam) Olson of Leander TX; and sister-in-law Kristi (Mark) Hanson of Bemidji MN. 

Chuck was preceded in death by his parents, infant twin brothers, and his parents-in-law Edwin and Irene Olson.

Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel www.crawfordosthus.com Watertown, Hayti, De Smet, Bryant, Arlington, Lake Preston and Oldham.

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