Visitation: Visitation will be Monday from 2 to 8:00 p.m. at Anderson Funeral Home in Canton, with family present from 6 to 8:00 p.m. A prayer service will begin at 8:00 p.m.

Service: His funeral will be at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6, at Canton United Methodist Church.

   Albert Van Laar, 85, passed away in his wife’s arms Friday, Jan. 2, 2015, at Good Samaritan Society in Canton.  His funeral will be at 10:00 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6, at Canton United Methodist Church.  Visitation will be Monday from 2 to 8:00 p.m. at Anderson Funeral Home in Canton, with family present from 6 to 8:00 p.m.  A prayer service will begin at 8:00 p.m.

   Albert Hiram Van Laar was born May 18, 1929 to John and Mary Van Laar on a farm near Schindler, close to Lincoln Lake.  He had 5 sisters.  He was raised in Canton and lived on various farms in the area.  He graduated from Canton High School in 1947.  After graduation he helped his parents on their large dairy farm and attended a trade school in Springfield, SD for 2 years.  He married Ruth Mull in 1955 and to this union had 2 sons, Randy and Kevin.  They later divorced.

   Albert worked for Tuthill Lumber Co. for 2 years and Larson Wholesale Hardware Co. for 28 years.  He also worked for the Canton School District as a janitor for 8 years, retiring in 1990. 

   He met his wife, Nancy, at Canton Good Samaritan Center in 1992.  They were married in 1995 in the back yard of the Van Laar home.  He attended church at Canton United Methodist Church after he and Nancy were married.  He loved gardening, raising beautiful flowers and fishing.  He had a large coin collection which he took much pride in.  His best friends were his wife and dog, Buddy.

   He was preceded in death by an infant brother, his parents, and 3 sisters, Rosemary, Margaret, and Gladys.  Those grateful for having shared his life are his wife of 20 years, Nancy; his 2 sons, Randy (Tammy), Renner, SD and Kevin (Betty), Clovis, CA; step children- Jason (Melissa) Walls, Sioux Falls, Jeff (Shannon) Walls, Sioux Falls, and Janae (Andy) McIntosh, Hamilton, MO; his 13 grandchildren- Amy, Jason, Meghan, Jacob, Ryan, Zach, Bryce, Madisyn, Olivia, Allison, Jonathan, Jordan, and Alissa; his 2 great-grandchildren- Kaylee and Thad; 2 sisters- Helen Volsch, Sioux Falls, and Mary Ann Albers, Lennox; his many nieces and nephews; and many friends.