Arlington, SDGraydon Lee Eggebraaten, GL, age 76, of Arlington, South Dakota, went to be with his Lord and Savior on Monday, February 4, 2008, at the VA Medical Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM Saturday, at First Assembly of God in Brookings, South Dakota, with interment in Trinity Cemetery at Volga. Visitations will be 4 to 7 P.M. Friday at Eidsness Funeral Chapel in Volga. Graydon was born on July 19, 1931 to Albert and Mabel (Leighton) Eggebraaten at the Madison Hospital in Madison, South Dakota. He was raised on the farm by Green Lake in Lake County, near Rutland, South Dakota. He attended various country schools. At age 16, he went to work for Sioux Falls Construction. He held various jobs working for farmers, as a mechanic and at a packing plant in Madison. He was drafted into the Army and was stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas, where he and Mina were married on April 12, 1952. He spent a few months in Indiana before being sent to the west coast, and then to Japan, where he served as a military policeman. While in route to Japan, his oldest son, Bryan was born. He received his GED while in the service. A nineteen day return trip by boat to the states took him to Seattle. He was honorably discharged at Camp Carson, Colorado. He worked for Minas uncle, A.J. VanderWal, near Volga for one year upon his return. At that time, they purchased the farm near Arlington. Nita was born shortly before they moved to this farm in 1955. The rest of the children, Keith, Deann, Allan and Carol, were born while living on the farm. They all enjoyed the experience of being raised on the farm. In addition to farming, GL ran a business from his farm shop called Eggebraaten Sales and Service. His son Allan joined him in this business for a time, expanding it to selling and servicing grain dryers over eastern South Dakota. GL was confirmed in the Lutheran Church as a teenager. Upon his return from the Army, he was active in the First Reformed Church in Volga, in various capacities. He and Mina currently attend the First Assembly of God Church in Brookings. They participated in mission trips to Hawaii and the Philippines with Minas father, Bill VanderWal, building missionary housing. GL lived his life for the Lord. He emulated his father-in-laws belief of stewardship of the land, daily reading of the Bible and applying it to his family and work. For many years they spent several months each winter residing in Mission, Texas. They enjoyed making new friends and frequently spent time with Army buddies and their wives during this time. Grateful for sharing his life are his wife of 55 years, Wilhelmina Mina of Arlington; his five children and their families: Bryan Eggebraaten, of Farmington, Minnesota, Nita (Robert) Sachen and their children: Krista, Joshua, and Matthew of Brookings, Keith (Linda) Eggebraaten, of Arlington, and their children: Emily of Brookings, Alisa and Erick of Arlington, Deann (Larry Neil) Moulton of Pipestone, Minnesota, and their children: Conrad (Jamie Salonen) Moulton of Lennox, South Dakota, Samantha Moulton of Pipestone, and Allan (Laree) Eggebraaten, of Arlington, and their children, Tara of Norris, South Dakota, Nicole and Amber of Arlington. He is also survived by his brother, Glenn Eggebraaten of Rutland, South Dakota, and his brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law Ed and Gina VanderWal, Ray and Marlys VanderWal, Ron and Marcia Carver all of Volga, and Duane and Loretta Kleinjan of Sinai, South Dakota; and a host of nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Mabel Eggebraaten, father-in-law and mother-in-law, Bill and Tessie VanderWal, and his youngest daughter, Carol Gillespie. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.eidsnessfuneralhome.com.