Howard Merlin Casey Williamson was born June 20, 1933 at Herrick, South Dakota to Lloyd and Nettie (Oamek) Williamson and he died March 23, 2005 at St. Lukes Hospital in Sioux City, Iowa, due to complications of diabetes, at the age of 71 years, 9 months and 3 days.

Merlin spent his youth on the family farm. He attended Burke High School and managed the family farm. He was drafted into the military in March of 1956, where he served as a seaman in the Navy, until his discharge in December of 1957. His tour of duty took him to ports in many countries, and he always said he had been all over the world. He enjoyed baseball, particularly Little League. He also enjoyed taking his nephews to town for a bottle of pop, and would have them fill their pop with peanuts.

Merlin was preceded in death by his maternal and paternal grandparents: Frank and Alice Oamek and Howard and Katie Williamson; his parents: Lloyd and Nettie Williamson; and two half sisters: Lilah Skalby and Isabel Bliven.

Merlin is survived by his sisters: Lois Bell of Norwalk, CA; Belva Feyereisen of Lakewood, CO; and Eldora Mathis of Winner, SD; his lifetime friends, Allen and Lavonne Boes of Atkinson, NE and his friends on the Sioux City area.

God Saw You

God saw you getting weary

He did what He thought best,

He put His arms around you

And said come and rest.

He opened up His golden gate

On that heartbreaking day,

And with His arms around you

You gently slipped away.

It broke our hearts to lose you,

A part of us went with you,

The day God called you home.



Graveside services will be held on Monday, March 28, 2005 at 2:00 PM at the Herrick Cemetery, Herrick, SD