Luvern Rumbolz, age 84 of Mitchell died Saturday August 30, 2008 at Avera Brady Health and Rehab after a long illness. Funeral services will be 11:00 am Friday, September 5, 2008 at the Ethan United Methodist Church with burial at Hillcrest Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 PM Thursday at the Will Funeral Chapel with prayer service beginning at 7:00 PM.
He was born December 31, 1923, at Ethan, to Martha Heckle Rumbolz and William Rumbolz. Luvern was the oldest of five children. Luvern grew up on a farm west of Ethan and learned at an early age to work hard. After graduating from grade school, he stayed at home on the farm and began his lifelong career of farming. Luvern married Norma Yusten June 10, 1944, and they worked side-by-side raising a family and farming. While his children were growing up, Luvern often supplemented the farm income by working on road construction or driving semis. He loved operating large equipment, trucks, and tractors (especially John Deere tractors).
In February 1992 they sold the farm machinery and rented out their farm land. They continued to live on the homestead until 1995 when they sold the house and moved to Mitchell. After the machinery auction, Luvern and Norma bought an RV and did some traveling for a few years. One of Luverns dreams was to work with a combining crew and travel the Midwestern states combining wheat. His dream came true in the spring and summer of 1992 when he and Norma joined a crew. They had some memorable experiences traveling with the crew and meeting farmers from Texas to North Dakota. During retirement, Luvern worked several summers with the Mitchell Parks Department and a couple summers with the State Highway Department. He also loved working outside in the yard or in his shop. Luvern enjoyed spending time with his family, riding his bike, reading, or talking about local and world affairs. He and Norma continued to travel, visiting their daughters in Georgia and family out West. Luvern was an active member of the Ethan United Methodist Church, the local Farmers Union, and a proud shareholder of John Deere.
Survivors include his wife, Norma Rumbolz, of Mitchell; three children: Scott (Michele) Rumbolz of Mitchell, Patricia (Tom) Wudel of Waleska, GA, and Sharon (Dan) McBrayer of Rome, GA; two brothers, Billy (Ila) Rumbolz, Ethan, and Lyle Rumbolz, Mitchell; two sisters, Shirley Fritza, Sioux Falls, and Carole Elfring, Eugene, OR. Luvern has five grandchildren: Melody (Sean) Shelton, Marietta, GA; Amy (Tim) Weidenbach, Parkston, SD; Lance (Juli) McBrayer, Statesboro, GA; Angela (Mike) Manczka, Wexford, PA; Jed Rumbolz, Mitchell, SD; and eight great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and a son, Douglas Rumbolz.