Funeral services for Robert Varland, age 64, of Lemmon, SD will be held at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, May 25, 2012 at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lemmon. Fr. Tony Grossenburg, Pastor Ed Zimmerman and Deacon Bill Dustman will officiate with burial in the Greenhill Cemetery at Lemmon.


Special music will be provided by Connie Maier, Shelly Wayne, Leslie Niederman, and Marilyn Willey.


Serving as casketbearers are Joe Deans, Mike Hess, Doug Hoff, Tim Kvale, Bob and Joe Mollman. All friends and relatives are considered honorary bearers.


ROBERT LESLIE VARLAND "Bob" was born in Lemmon, SD on June 2, 1947 to Leslie and Lillian (Beyers) Varland. He attended various schools throughout the State of South Dakota and graduated from McIntosh High School in 1966. Bob enlisted in the South Dakota Army National Guard on December 18, 1964 and was discharged on December 17, 1970. During his enlistment, he was a member of the 211th Engineering Company in Lemmon. He also worked at the Homestake Mine, and later served as a foreman for Scherle Sales constructing pole barns.


Bob was united in marriage to Karen Butler on September 1, 1968 in Lemmon. They lived for seven years in Mobridge and then moved south of Morristown in 1974 when they began farming and ranching with his mother and step father, Lillian and George Burns. Later on they purchased the Dan Winters place where they continued running Registered Angus Cattle on shares with Doug and Molly Hoff. They lived there until moving into Lemmon in 2000 due to health reasons.


High school friends will remember Bob as being a good student, excelling in basketball and star quarterback of the football team. They voted Bob the Most Popular Boy, Best Dressed, and Best Dancer and he always drove the sharpest cars! He was a wonderful friend to everyone.


Bob loved his family and spending time with family and friends, hunting, fishing and playing an occasional game of pinochle that used to "ruffle his feathers". He especially enjoyed salmon fishing trips with his boys.


Karen and Bob were thrilled to welcome their grandson, Hudson, born 3 years ago and their two step-grandchildren, Ryan and Jacob McMakin. Hudson looked forward to spending time with his "Papa" (Bob) every Sunday on Facetime. Bob's cats, especially his Choppy, and his little "adopted" grandkids, Adyson, Sophie and Kylie were his special buddies.


Bob could often be found "tinkering" in the garage and was well-known as a Mr. Fix-It. It seemed he could fix about anything from a car motor to a gourmet meal with just the right touch for "spicing it up".


No one was a stranger to Bob and their home was always open to everyone, especially those who needed a shoulder to lean on. He did what he could to help. In later years, even on the days when his pain was almost too much for him to bear, he had a kind word to say. Not a man of many words, more a listener, when he did say something it was meaningful and understood.


The past ten years or so have been difficult for Bob, with declining health and debilitating arthritis. Some days, the pain was so severe he could hardly get out of his chair, but he continued to enjoy visits from family and friends and be as upbeat as possible. Bob loved the Lord his God and his faith sustained him through many a rough time.


Bob passed away on Sunday morning, May 20, 2012 at his home east of Lemmon, SD.


Grateful for having shared in his life are his wife, Karen Varland, Lemmon, SD; one daughter and son-in-law, Camille and Marlon McMakin, Dallas, TX; two sons, Bobby and Casey Varland, both of Morristown, SD; one grandson, Hudson Andrew McMakin; two step-grandsons, Jacob and Ryan McMakin; step-father, George Burns, Morristown, SD; one brother-in-law, Doug Butler, Shadehill, SD; sister-in-law, Sandra Leonard, Bison, SD; and numerous aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and cousins; and foster daughter, Amber David.


Bob was preceded in death by his parents, Leslie Varland and Lillian Burns; one sister, Donna Varland; one brother, Donald Kanis; and step-father, Harlan Kanis.


Visitation will be on Thursday, May 24, 2012 from 1:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. followed by a family service at 7:00 p.m. at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon and one hour prior to the services at the church on Friday morning.


A memorial has been established.