Delbert "Del" C. Geihl

The funeral service for Delbert “Del” Geihl, 90, of Cottonwood, will be at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, August 17, 2024, at English Lutheran Church in Cottonwood. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Interment with military honors will follow at English Lutheran Cemetery in Cottonwood. Delbert C. Geihl was born September 24, 1933, in Vesta Township to Albert and Cora (Peterson) Geihl. The family moved to Cottonwood where they were members of English Lutheran Church. Del was confirmed at the age of 14. He graduated from Cottonwood Public School in 1952. Del was drafted into the Army in 1952 and completed his basic training at Fort Lewis, Tacoma, WA, then was transferred to San Francisco. From there Del served in the Military Police on the 38th parallel in Korea for 13 months, from 1952-1953, and 5 months in Japan. When he came home he worked at Smith’s Farm Store until 1961. Del then became Head Custodian at the Cottonwood Public School, where he worked for 34 years. Del enjoyed bowling and that is where he met his wife Mary Katherine (Kate) Brown. They were married September 12, 1957. They lived in Cottonwood until the both retired and moved to Granite Falls, where he would say he survived 2 floods and a tornado. Kate passed away in 2008. On July 9, 2016, Del married Nellie Bjornebo and became a husband, father, grandfather, and great-grandfather that day. Del and Nellie moved to Cottonwood and lived there until his death. Del was a proud member of the Granite Falls VFW and the Cottonwood American Legion. He served on the Granite Falls Legion Honor Guard for over 300 funerals. Del passed away at AVERA Hospital in Marshall, on August 13, 2024. He is survived by his wife Nellie, her children and their families. Several nieces and nephews and his sister-in-law, Julie and Tom Nordstrom. Del also had good friends in both the Granite Falls and Cottonwood area, especially the crew at the Cottonwood Cenex. Del was preceded in death by his parents Albert and Cora, his wife Kate, his siblings Alona (Cleo) Sealy, Howard (Betty) Geihl, Norman (Marilyn) Geihl and a 1 ½ year old sister, Lois.