HONORED ROTARIANS
Rotary Club bids farewell to Scheibes
The Custer Rotary Club lost a stalwart member of its club when Verl and wife Kathy Scheibe, both rotarians, both made the move from Custer County to Tea, S.D., to be closer to family.
Verl married Kathy in 1971 and transplanted her (a native Oregonian) to the farm in eastern SD for eight years. Then they moved back to Oregon where Verl worked in a John Deere dealer organization for 29 years. Verl retired April 1, 2009 and built a home on Emerald Road north of Custer. Verl and Kathy enjoy hunting, fishing in Alaska (and anywhere where the fishing is good), and flying. They were also members of the Custer Lutheran Fellowship. Verl first became a Rotary member with the Newberg Rotary Club in Oregon in 1991. He had received his first Paul Harris Fellow from RI President Bill Huntley in 1994 at the Rotary International Convention in Portland, Ore. Verl and Kathy (a multiple Paul Harris Fellow) have one daughter, Tanya, (a Paul Harris Fellow) who lives in Nampa, Idaho, where she teaches the third grade.
Verl has long been the unofficial "tech" man for the Custer Rotary Club, with his knowledge of Club Runner greatly benefitting the club. He was also a frequent presenter to the club thanks to his various diving exploits, and earned the moniker "Mr. Rotary" for Custer. He and Kathy will remain on the Custer Rotary Club roster, but his knowledge, generosity and expertise will be greatly missed.
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.
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