Milton Oliver Ustad was born October 18, 1944 in Beresford, South Dakota to Gilbert and Mildred (Johnson) Ustad. He died July 13, 2024 at the VA Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD at the age of 79 years.

He was raised on the family farm and attended Star Country School before graduating from Beresford High School in 1962. From 1965-1967 Milt served in the United States Army with the 212th MP Company. While in Vietnam he was a military police dog handler protecting the base at Camp Holloway in Pleiku. When he returned to the States he was stationed at Ft. Carson, CO before being honorably discharged. Milt returned to South Dakota to farm and married Linda Schmid in 1968 where they raised four daughters. Milt obtained his Associate Degree at SECC in Hawarden, IA and attended USD in Vermillion, SD.

He married Peggy Grant in 1988 and they had one daughter. He also worked as a guard at the SD State Penitentiary and as a dairy inspector for the SD Dept. of Agriculture. Milt and Peggy began a small cow herd and grew it into a respected Red Angus herd. He enjoyed watching sports, hunting, trapshooting and playing golf, even getting a hole-in-one.

He had a servant heart. Milt was a member at Skrefsrud Free Lutheran Church, rural Beresford, where he was a trustee, treasurer, vice-president and president. He is past commander of the Beresford VFW Post 2975 and a member of the American Legion Post 72. Milt served on the Emmet Township Board for several years and was instrumental with the Beresford Community Thanksgiving Dinner Committee for 15 years. He was a Union County Commissioner for 17 1⁄2 years, serving the last 10 1/2 as Chairman before retiring July 1, 2024. Milt was a member of SECOG and the BEDCO board for seven years. He was a life member of the Union County Historic Society and promoted the Red Angus breed wherever he could.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Gilbert and Mildred; a young daughter, Leala Ustad; one sister, Ida Mae Ustad; and brother-in-law, Don Patti.

He is survived by his wife, Peggy Ustad of Beresford, SD; four daughters, Lynette Hofer of Tea, SD, Laura Ustad of Sioux Falls, SD, Leann Ustad of Harrisburg, SD and Kirsten (Jake) Bickett of Beresford, SD; 11 grandchildren, 7 great-grandchildren; his brother, Melvin (Joanne) Ustad of Vermillion, SD; three sisters, Agnes Patti of Takoma Park, MD, Naomi (Tom) Peterson of Emporia, KS, Ruby (Bruce) Plate of Vermillion, SD; brothers-in-law, Dale (Kay) Grant of Vale, SD, Mike (Kristen) Grant of Whitewood, SD, and many nieces and nephews.

Visitation will be 5-7PM Wednesday, July 17, 2024 at The Bridges at Beresford Event Center, 601 S 7th Street, Beresford, SD, with a prayer service at 7PM. Funeral services will be 10AM Thursday, July 18th at The Bridges at Beresford Event Center. Burial with military honors will follow at 1PM at the South Dakota Veterans Cemetery, 25965 477th Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD.