HONORED ROTARIANS

 

Tom Nelson was born March 14, 1946 in Valley City, N.D., to Kenneth & Elizabeth (Watson) Nelson. He was the oldest of 13 children. 
Tom was raised on a farm three miles west of Valley City and attended St. Catherine’s School, where he participated in football, yearbook and was the student manager for basketball & track. He graduated in 1964 & was awarded the Holy Name Service Award.
Tom married Janice Lill in 1965 and they had four children born to the marriage. Tom graduated from Valley City State University in 1968 with a BS degree, and majors in English and Physical Education.
While attending college he wrestled on the college wrestling team his freshman year. His junior and senior years he coached seventh and eighth grade basketball at St. Catherine’s, and worked full time at Montgomery Ward. He spent most nights running the projectors at the local drive-in theater.
After graduating from college Tom worked for the Richland County Welfare Office in Wahpeton, N.D., until the fall of 1969, when he accepted his first teaching position in Nora Springs, Iowa. He taught high school English, directed the high school plays and was assistant varsity wrestling coach. Tom taught there until 1974 at which time he accepted a similar position in Spencer, Iowa. While in Spencer, besides coaching wrestling, he also coached seventh grade girl’s basketball, junior high track and was the yearbook advisor.
Tom & Janice divorced in May 1983 and in August, while attending a family reunion in Custer, S.D., Tom met his wife, Linda. They actually only saw each other for 12 days but over a period of a year of nightly phone calls, and hundreds of letters, their love grew and they were married July 21, 1984.
Tom left teaching in 1987 at which time he and Linda moved to Custer and Tom worked as an advertising salesman for the Custer  County Chronicle until 1990.
They then moved to Boise, Idaho, where Tom worked as a salesman in the telecommunication and janitorial supply industry until 2003 when they returned to Custer. After working two more years in the janitorial industry Tom went back to the telecommunication industry until he retired in 2013.
Tom enjoyed dancing to any kind of music but he especially liked to jitter-bug with is favorite partner (Linda). He also enjoyed camping, fishing, hunting, playing cards and most games (except marbles), working in their yard, raising quail and chukkars, and watching people stop by to enjoy the Christmas light display for which he was well known. To many who didn’t know his name he was simply known as the Christmas light guy. 
Tom was always ready for a good time and enjoyed spending time with family and friends and following the Boise State Bronco football team.

 

 

 Donald Raymond Kraus was born March 29, 1947 in Detroit Lakes, MN to Darwin and Verona Kraus. Don later landed a job in 1970 as Highway design Engineer for the SD Highway Department on Interstate 90 construction projects near Chamberlain, SD that included the 2000’ bridge across the Missouri River. While in Pierre Don worked as Aviation Planner/Construction Programmer with the SD Division of Aeronautics working with all 75 public approved airports.  He designed, planned and programmed for State and Federal Aviation Administration funding, including the airport in Custer SD, where he landed a job in 1984 as Area Engineer.  Don’s favorite sayings were “Everybody’s job is important, Just DO IT and you will be successful!”   “Hard work and good luck seem to go together.”  

 Don leaves a legacy of having a positive attitude with a smile on his face! We will continue to laugh and smile the way you showed us how.

Don's smiling face and kind heart will be missed my all, especially his family, this Rotary Club and all who benefited by his many hours of volunteering for anything that was helping others.  

 

Roy Roadifer

We Honor Past President Rotarian, Roy Roadifer, he passed away on 8 Dec, 2020. We remember Roy, as a loyal Rotarian, a knowledgeable geologist, always explaining things about the Black Hills, and a wonderful Humanitarian. He was a multiple Paul Harris Fellow. Roy had been an active member for over 26 years and had over 19 years of perfect attendance. He had served in Okinawa during WW2. 
To his wife Ramona, and family, our condolences. 

Jill Kettle

We Honor Past President Rotarian, Jill Kettle, who passed away unexpectedly on November 16th.  Jill's constant smile and can do attitude was always there as she got things done!  She was a hard working Rotarian that lead by example! Jill was an active member of Custer Rotary since 2014. Her leadership at the Custer Senior Center kept it vibrant, and alive. Jill was very active in several local service organizations.  She was always giving of herself to help others, a Paul Harris Fellow and True Rotarian. Our Sympathies to Ron and her family, and the dogs she loved.   

Sue Brown

We Honor Past Custer Rotarian Board member, Sue Brown. Sue passed away May 10th.  She will be remembered for her wonderful smile, and the many who were touched by her generosity, and kindness.  
She served on the Boards of many nonprofit organizations in the fields of education, housing, and women’s issues including the Sioux Falls Housing and Redevelopment Commission, South Dakota Housing Development Authority, YWCA, Habitat for Humanity, United Way and Volunteers of America.  She also served on the Boards of the Sioux Falls Area Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Rotary.  She served two terms on the Sioux Falls School Board, worked as a financial services representative for her husband’s business and became President/CEO the Sioux Falls Area Community Foundation in 1995.  She retired from that position in 2006.  Both the School Board and Community Foundation were works that matched Sue’s passions, and she considered these opportunities two of the turning points in her life.