Funeral services for Eldred Charles Kolb, age 73, of rural Bison will be at 2:00 pm Thursday, February 21, 2008 at Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church in Bison. Pastor Gerhardt Juergens will officiate with burial at the Date Cemetery with Military Honors afforded by the Smith-Rogers American Legion Post #255. Visitation will be from 1:00 to 7:00 pm on Wednesday February 20th, at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon and starting at 10:00 am on Thursday, February 21st at the church.


Eldred Charles Kolb was born October 31, 1934 in Lemmon, SD, the seventh of nine children to Rudolf and Amelia (Hintz) Kolb. He attended grade school at the Reder School near the ranch 23 miles southwest of Bison, SD and high school at Northwestern Lutheran Academy in Mobridge, SD, graduating in 1953. After graduation he went into construction work to help build highway 212. When that was finished, he returned to the ranch to work for his dad until 1956 when he enlisted into the Air Force for 4 years.


Eldred met Willeyene Sapp on a blind date and they were united in marriage on July 2, 1961 at Pittsfield, Illinois. After being discharged from the service they returned to the family farm to help Raymond with his spray business and Delbert with the farming. In February 1967, Eldred bought the place when his dad retired. Eldred loved flying, especially his beloved V-Tail Bonanza, Super Cub and Pawnee. There are too many stories and adventures to list! In 2005 Eldred became eligible for the Wright Brothers "Master Pilot Award", with over 50 years and 11,000 hours of flight time.


Eldred enjoyed and was committed to his crop spraying, farming and ranching. He also very much enjoyed his three grandchildren; Alyssa, Stephanie, and Jacob; flying, aerial hunting coyotes for over 50 years, and fishing. Eldred loved visiting with family and friends and sharing many stories and jokes. When Eldred retired he turned the farm over to Dwight (Christy) and Duane (Daphne). He continued to live on the farm until the Lord called for him on February 15, 2008 at the age of 73 years, 3 months, and 13 days.


Eldred is survived by his wife, Willeyene; two sons and daughters-in-law, Dwight and Christy Kolb, and Duane and Daphne Kolb; three grandchildren; Alyssa, Stephanie, and Jacob Kolb, all of Bison, SD; two sisters, Lillian Simon of Newell SD, and Deanna (Rod) Kensrud of Fargo ND, four brothers; Arnold (Florence) Kolb of Almagordo, NM, Ernest (Darlene) Kolb of Bison, SD, Vernon Kolb of Billings, MT, and Delbert (Betty) Kolb of Sturgis, SD, sister-in-law, Betty Kolb of Lemmon, SD and numerous nieces and nephews.


Eldred was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Gilbert in infancy and Raymond Kolb; one sister-in-law, Darlene Kolb, one brother-in-law, Lee Simon, and a special nepehew Jim Urban.