Marlyn O. Taecker

Marlyn O. Taecker, age 93, of Watertown, SD, passed away peacefully on Tuesday, October 7, 2025, in Watertown, SD.  Funeral services will be at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, October 17, 2025, at St. Martins Lutheran Church in Watertown, SD, alongside with his brother Orville’s funeral.  Rev. Paul Kuckhahn will officiate.  Music will be provided by Suzy Steinmetz as organist.  The funeral service will be live-streamed via our website. 

Visitation will be at the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Thursday, October 16, 2025, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. and prior to services at the church on Friday.

Burial will be Mt. Hope Cemetery in Watertown.  Military graveside honors will be conducted by Codington County Post #17 of the American Legion, Watertown, and the Funeral Honors Team of the U.S. Navy.

Marlyn Oscar Taecker was born December 29, 1931, to George “Oscar” and Gladys (Neuendorf) Taecker on the family farm in rural Watertown SD.   Marlyn attended the Gardner School District #14 and graduated from Watertown High School in 1950.   While in High School, Marlyn played football for the Watertown Arrows.  Marlyn enlisted and served in the United States Navy from May 1952 through May 1956.  Following his honorable discharge, he returned to Watertown and farmed on the family farm where he maintained the gathering place for his siblings and their families to celebrate Christmas, many annual family reunions or any time they wanted to come. 

Marlyn was a founding member of the ATY Pig Cooperative. He enjoyed farming as his livelihood and as he said, also his hobby.  Tractor rides for his nieces and nephews and their children with Marlyn were the highlight of their times on The Farm along with breakfast at The Stockman’s Café.  Forever grateful for his undying patience are the many nieces and nephews who were always welcome at The Farm.  They’ve said Marlyn was always ‘happy’ to receive pig related gifts, allowing the boys to fish while Marlyn made hay by the river, letting them drive the pickup to the field and the fact they learned their first ‘colorful’ language while milking are some of his nieces’ & nephews’ fondest memories.  

Doug Brandreit worked alongside Marlyn for many years and it was Doug, Sandy and Justin Brandreit that Marlyn entrusted with the future of the farm Marlyn, Oscar and his brothers built.  

Marlyn served on many boards over the years.   Among them were the SD Pork Producers Association, Codington County Pork Producers Association, and held various positions on the Elmira Township Board.

Marlyn traveled to Alaska with most of his brothers and sisters, cruised through the Panama Canal and accompanied Karen’s family on several trips to Colorado and Florida.   He enjoyed photographing the sights and telling us about his trips.  

In 2019, due to Parkinson’s Disease Marlyn moved to Edgewood Assisted Living and then to Jenkins Living Center.  While at Jenkins, he received an award for always participating in any activity to the best of his ability.  He taught us what it looks like to accept others’ help with grace and dignity.  

Marlyn was a lifelong member of St. Martin’s Lutheran Church where he held various leadership roles, taught Sunday School for many years, served as the Sunday School Superintendent and was an avid reader of the Holy Scriptures.  His faith was a very important part of his life.  He was a supporter of Great Plains Lutheran High School.  

Marlyn was preceded in death by his parents Oscar and Gladys, his sister Edith, brother Orville (on the preceding day), sister-in-law Doreen and brother-in-law Russell Betts.  He is survived by his brother Jim (Mavis) Taecker of South Shore SD, his sisters Jean (William) Smith of New Hope Minn, Faye Betts of Mondovi Wisc, Karen (Robert) Heemeyer of Burnsville Minn, and Christine (Robert) Lindgren of Forest Lake Minn, 18 nieces and nephews and numerous great-nieces and nephews.    

In lieu of flowers, Marlyn would be pleased with any memorials directed to the Great Plains Lutheran High School Scholarship Fund.

Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel www.crawfordosthus.com Watertown and Hayti

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