Floris “Bud” Vandergon, age 85, of Maple Lake, went to his Heavenly Home on December 24, 2014, at his own home.
Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 3, 2015, at the Annandale Evangelical Free Church with Pastor Denny Johnson officiating. Visitation will held from 4:00-7:00 p.m. on Friday, January 2, and one hour prior to the service on Saturday, both at the church. A prayer service will be held at 6:00 p.m. on Friday at the church. Private family interment will be held at Lakeview Cemetery.
Bud was born on August 19, 1929, to Arnold and Winnie (Mol) Vandergon on the family farm, 4 miles north of Maple Lake where he lived all his life. He attended grade school at District 119, approximately 1 mile from his home. In 1947, he graduated from Maple Lake High School, later attending the School of Agriculture in St. Paul. He married Gloria Mae Lundstrom on May 15, 1953, at the Christian Missionary Alliance Church in Monticello. To this union, were born four children, three of whom are still living.
Bud loved the farm, which first was owned by his grandparents, Nicholas and Gertrude Vandergon. Daily he could witness God’s great creation as he prepared the soil, planted the seed and awaited the harvest. He first started farming in a partnership with his Dad, Arnold. Later, when his Dad retired, he was happy to have his son, Mark and family move back to the farm and partner with him. Bud enjoyed serving and providing for his family, his church, and his community. At a young age, he started serving as a Deacon and then Elder at the Silver Creek Reformed Church. Singing with the choir in Contatas was a highlight for him, along with teaching Sunday School and Wednesday Night Catechism classes. He also sang a quartets and duets. In 1985, Bud and his wife started attending the Annandale Evangelical Free Church, serving on the Deacon Board and Social Concerns Board. For years he volunteered as Secretary of Lakeview Cemetery and the Maple Lake Manor Board. For thirty-three years, he was privileged to be a Director, at what was then known as Security State Bank of Maple Lake, following in the footsteps of his Grandpa Nicholas and his Dad, Arnold, who also had each served 33 years. Bud loved studying maps or anything to do with History, especially magazine or articles on World War II, American History and current events. His greatest joy was spending time with his family, extended family, neighbors and friends. He felt fulfilment in helping and encouraging countless people. The bottom line of his life was his personal relationship to his Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, believing in and trying to follow the principals taught in God’s Word. To him, things of this world lost their value in lights of Eternity, to be forever with his Lord and all who had gone before.
Bud is survived by his wife of 61 years, Gloria, of Maple Lake; his three children, Barbara (Greg) Goheen of Central Point, Oregon, Mark (LuAnn) Vandergon of Maple Lake, and Nancy Vandergon of Chaska; 8 grandchildren, Trevor (Jessica) Vandergon of Becker, Trent (Elizabeth) Vandergon of Holdingford, Jacki Vandergon of Durham, New Hampshire, Joshua Goheen of Oregon, Justin Goheen of Oregon, Aaron (Steph) Streeter of Hopkins, Kara Streeter of Chaska, and Daniel Streeter of Chaska, 7 great grandchildren; sisters, Marion Balster of Golden Valley, Dorothy Whiting of Ashland, WI, and Phyllis Bergman of New London; and many nieces, nephews and other family and friends. He is preceded in death by his parents, infant son, Bruce Steven, great grandson, Ezekiel, and 3 brothers-in-law, Louie Balster, Charles Whiting, and Red Bergman.
For Bud, he’d truly agree with the Apostle Paul, “For me to live is Christ; to die is gain”.
Bud’s nephews will serve as pallbearers. Phyllis Johnson, Jon Thomas and the Choir will provide music for the service. Arrangements are entrusted to Dingmann Funeral Care Burial & Cremation Services of Maple Lake.
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