Obituary of William Norman Brinkman

William (Mr. Bill) N. Brinkman, age 69 of Yankton passed away unexpectedly on Saturday, April 30, 2016 at the Avera Sacred Heart Hospital, Yankton. Online condolences may be sent at www.opsahl-kostelfuneralhome.com. Pallbearers Scott Gilbertson, Steve Gilbertson, Lisa Dixon, Jon Gilbertson, Dan Brinkman, Valerie Brinkman. Honorary pallbearer Master Sergeant Mark Brinkman. Bill was born in Wabasha, Minnesota to Norman and Rose Brinkman on November 18, 1946. Bill grew up on a farm near Plainview, Minnesota and graduated from Elgin-Millville High School in 1964. In 1966, Bill was drafted into the Marines and served from 1966-1968. Bill worked for the City of Rochester in the maintenance department, IBM in Arizona and Pennsylvania. In 1998, he returned to Lake City and worked at the Lake City Lumber Company and UBC. In June 2006 Bill moved to Yankton, South Dakota and worked at Applied Engineering until he retired. Bill enjoyed building scale model farm machinery. His machinery was sold all over the US and Canada. Bill was featured in the Farm Collector magazine. He enjoyed going out for breakfast, toy auctions, taking walks, riding his bike, and attending tractor and threshing shows. Bill is survived by his sister, Anna (Carroll) Gilbertson of Lanesboro, MN; brother, David (Liz) Brinkman of Yankton, SD; nieces and nephews: Scott, Steve, Lisa and Jon Gilbertson, Mark, Dan and Valerie Brinkman and special friend, Mary Applen of Rochester, MN. Bill was preceded in death by his father, Norman and mother, Rose Brinkman.