Donald F. Gaikowski was born on Friday, August 17, 1928 to Frank and Esther (Jutting) Gaikowski at Watertwon, South Dakota. He was baptized at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Watertown. In 1936 the family moved to a farm north of Webster in Raritan Township, Day County. He attended parochial schools in Watertown and Webster and also country school near his home. After he finished school he farmed with his father and worked on various jobs in the ara. In March 1951 he entered the U.S. Army and served in Korea during the Korean Conflict. After his discharge in March 1953 he moved to Watertown and worked for Scull’s Construction.
On June 11, 1955 he married Genevieve Reese at Waubay, South Dakota. After their marriage the couple lived in Watertown for a year and then moved to Lead where he worked for Homestake Gold Mine. In 1960 the couple returned to the Gaikowski family farm where her farmed until the present time. In the later years he worked at various jobs including Praire Sky Ranch near Veblen.
He was a member of Wesbter V.F.W. Post 4690 and Brady-Monson Post 129 American Legion of Waubay. His hobbies included working with horses, driving wagons, cattle and trail rides, snowmobile, old time dancing and square dancing, hunting fishing and trapping. He loved to spoil his children and grandchilren with candy and having coffee with friends. He was willing to always go out of his way to help others.
Don passed away on Thursday, September 11, 2003 at Sioux Falls, South Dakota at thea ge of 73 years and 25 days.
Survivors include his wife, Genny of Webster; six sons, Jacke (& Dixie), Randy and Leon (& Diane) all of Webster, SD, Kevin (& Terri) of Hayti, SD, Scott (& Joleen) of Britton, SD and Jed of Piedmont, SD; four daughters, Jayne (Bill) Gottsleben of Philip, SD, Susan Gaikowski of Humboldt, SD, Julie (Tim) Spiering of Webster, SD and Amy Gaikowski of Sioux Falls, SD; a son-in-law, Merle Pfitzer of Britton, SD; two brothers, Richard Gaikowski of San Fransisco, CA and Larry Gaikowski of Peoria, AZ; three sisters, Marian Zollar and Therese (Stanley) Boik of Webster, SD and Lorraine Lesnar of Milbank, SD; a brother-in-law, Ray Sass of Webster, SD; a sister-in-law, Teri Gaikowski of Wheatlan, WY; twenty two grandchildren and two great grandchildrend. He was preceded in deathy by his parents, a daughter, Pam, a Brother, Roger and a Sister, Pauline Sass.