The Memorial Service for Reuben will be held at 10:30am MT Friday, May 28, 2021 at St. John's Lutheran Church in Carson with Pastor Bethany Haberstroh.  Reuben and Lilian's ashes will be interred at 3:00pm CT on May 28, 2021 at the North Dakota Veterans Cemetery south of Mandan, ND with full military honors.

Reuben H. Zeller, 103, Carson, passed away on Wednesday, October 28, 2020 at the Jacobson Memorial Hospital in Elgin.

Reuben H. Zeller was born five miles northeast of Heil, ND on March 19, 1917 to Theodore L. and Christina (Kirschman) Zeller. Reuben attended rural schools until 1925 when the family moved to Carson. He graduated from Carson High School in 1936. After graduation he worked for the WPA and the Grant County Auditor's office before serving in the US Army from 1941 through 1945.

While stationed in London he met Lilian (Margaret) Villars. Reuben and Margaret were married in Flasher on July 30, 1947 and purchased a house in Carson, which they lived in together until Margaret's death in 2009 and where Reuben lived independently until September 2020. Together they had four children.

In 1947, Reuben worked as the village clerk for the Farmers Home Administration and he also farmed with his dad until 1967, at which time he was appointed Postmaster of Carson and served until his retirement in 1977. He was an avid woodworker and many of the business signs he made can be seen throughout the area.

He was a member of the American Legion for 73 years, during which time he served as commander, adjutant, and chaplain. Reuben was appointed chairman of the Grant County Selective Service Board and served for 23 years until it disbanded in the early 70's. He was one of three members of the Village Park Board when it was formed. He was instrumental in forming the Carson Horseshoe Club, which hosted the ND State Horseshoe tournament in 1972. He was inducted into the ND Horseshoe Hall of Fame in 1983 and attended two World Horseshoe tournaments. He was involved in planning the Grant County Veteran's Memorial and seeing it come to fruition.

Reuben loved playing cards. Many games of poker were played in the poker room in the basement of his home, and he never passed up a game of gin rummy. He and his family had marathon games of Tripoley at every family gathering right up to September 2020.

At the end of September he entered assisted living at Dakota Hill and in October was hospitalized at Jacobson Memorial Hospital in Elgin.

Reuben is survived by his four children: John Zeller of Jamestown, twins Kathleen Ripplinger (Pete) of Billings, MT and Christine Zeller of Flasher, and Julie McCabe (Randy) of Bismarck; six grandchildren: Alanna Zeller (Brady Laub) ,Melissa Ripplinger, Dawn Ripplinger, Steven Zeller,  Jamie McCabe and Jason McCabe; and one great-grandson:  Kiernan Ripplinger .

Reuben was preceded in death by his wife; his parents; his sister, Alverna; and his step-mother, Alma; and many aunts and uncles.

Cards may be mailed to Christine Zeller, PO Box 274, Flasher, ND  58535.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.evansonjensenfuneralhome.com