Phillip L. Van Dover

The memorial service for Phillip L. Van Dover, 86, of Aberdeen, SD, will be 11:00am, Saturday, February 17, 2024 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church, with Pastor Jeff Whillock officiating. Burial will be at Riverside Cemetery with Military honors by Sidney L. Smith American Legion Post 24. Phillip died Sunday, February 4, at Avera St. Luke's Hospital in Aberdeen.
Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church.
Phillip L. Van Dover was born on March 27, 1937, to Floyd and Amy (Sieman) Van Dover Aberdeen, SD. He grew up and attended school in Westport, SD and graduated from Westport High School in 1955. He entered the US Army in 1955, where he was a teletype operator stationed in La Rochelle, France until 1958, when he continued to serve in the Army Reserves for three years.
On December 9, 1961, Phillip married Kay Walker in Aberdeen at Bethlehem Lutheran Church. They made their home in Aberdeen where Phillip managed Club 23. Later, he worked for Ballard Distributing until 1989 when he started his own trucking business. He owned Aberdeen Distributing, until he retired in 1999. After retirement, Phil worked for Car Quest part-time, and later, worked full-time during the summer for the City Parks and Recreation. He enjoyed working for the city and made many new friends.
Phillip enjoyed racing and drove a modified race car at Brown County Speedway. In 1999, he traveled to Daytona and St. Augustine, Florida and went to the Daytona 500. He attended three races total throughout the years and shared one time with his son, Joel; This was a highlight for them both. He also enjoyed watching NSU Basketball, Minnesota Vikings, and Minnesota Twins. He liked hunting, playing card games, and reading to his grandchildren. He often spent his summers at the lake cabin, where he gave pontoon rides to family and friends, and winters in Port Aransas, Texas. He was a member of Bethlehem Lutheran Church where he served as usher, served Sunday morning coffee, and Wednesday night dinner. He was also a lifetime member of the Elks.
Grateful for having shared Phillip's life are wife, Kay Van Dover; children: Kimberly Holmes, and Bob Larson; grandchildren: Amy Jo, Harrison, Monty, Elizabeth, Hayley, and Corina; great-grandchildren: Emma Kay, Patrick Phillip, Gabriella Marie, Willow Morgana, Murdock Gerald; siblings: Kenny (Elaine) Van Dover, Mark (Linda Jo) Van Dover, Owen Van Dover, Beverly (Bob) Robinson, Linda Brooks, Margaret Davis; and many nieces and nephews.
Preceding Phillip in death are his parents, Floyd and Amy Van Dover; son, Joel Van Dover; granddaughter, Kira; siblings, Donald Van Dover and Gerald (Audrey) Van Dover, Daniel Van Dover, Thomas Van Dover, and Veronica Jane; and brothers-in-law, Dale Brooks and Dale Davis.
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