Obituary of Herbert R. Tollefson

Herbert R. Tollefson, age 96 of Menno, SD passed away on Wednesday, December 16, 2015 at the Menno-Olivet Care Center, Menno, SD. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM, Saturday, December 19, 2015 at the Salem Reformed Church, Menno, SD with Rev. Michael Hecht officiating. Burial will be approximately 3:30 PM, Saturday in the Restlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery, Huron, SD. (5 miles south of Huron). Visitations will be one hour prior to the service at the church. Military rites by the Rames-Bender American Legion Post #152, Menno. The Aisenbrey-Opsahl-Kostel Memorial Chapel, Menno, SD is assisting with the service details. Pallbearers will be: Jacob Tollefson, Andrew Tollefson, Ryan VanLaecken, Dale Gronhovd, Thomas Tollefson and Robert VanLaecken. Herb was born to Alma (Pawloski) and Rufus Tollefson in Cuthbert, SD (near Woonsocket, SD) on April 12, 1919. In the 1920's and dirty 30's he was a fun loving, hard working farm boy. He and his brothers and sisters attended a country school near Cuthbert. In the early 1940's, Herb was drafted into and went to fight in WWII. He was trained to be a Demolitions Engineer and shipped overseas soon after. He fought bravely for the USA and earned four major battle stars in Africa, Italy and Germany with the 5th Army. He experienced some amazing things and always considered himself lucky to come back in one piece. Many of his memories about the war have been recorded by his family and officially recorded from recent interviews by newscasters in Yankton and Vermillion, SD. About the same time, on December 28th, 1942, Herb married Mary Antonia Peta in Muskogee, OK and they started their family together. He came back from the war to his family as a Master Sergeant and joined the National Guard in Woonsocket. He also joined the Veterans of Foreign Wars and the American Legion and had been an active member of both for over 70 years; in both Woonsocket, SD and Menno, SD. He was most proud of the 96 flags he gave out in Woonsocket, SD as Post 29 Legion Chaplain for many years. Herb loved being from Woonsocket. In the 40's and 50's, he and Mary had four children: Rosemary, David, Lywellyn and John. In the 50's, Herb and Mary had their start in farming. They grew corn, alfalfa and oats and raised cattle and pigs. They started growing watermelons and muskmelons then and Herb was a melon man ever since. In the 60's, things started well, but in 1965 a car accident severely injured Mary, causing a stroke. Mary never fully recovered and passed away in 2007. This set Herb back, but he cared for her and still worked the farm and raised his children. He was a very good father and grandfather and even beloved by his children's friends. He set a good example for everyone. He worked hard and loved to play the harmonica, making sure everyone had fun. From the 50's through the 90's, his farm prospered and his children had children. Everyone and their families came to Herb's farm to help and to enjoy him. In the early 2000's, Herb was into his 80's and his aorta heart valve was failing. With modern medicine, it was replaced with a pig valve. It saved his life and gave him a dozen more great years, but it is that replacement valve that finally failed him now, at age 96. In 2008, Herb married his old friend through the watermelons and seed corn, Frieda Nusz of Menno, SD. He moved to Menno and they had seven great years together. Herb loved Frieda and they had fun together. She was there with him to the end. He really enjoyed his final years with her in Menno and even his final months at the Menno home, with the caring staff who treated him very well. Herbert is survived by his wife, Frieda of Menno. SD; children: Rosemary (Ron) VanLaecken of Watertown, SD, Lywellyn (Cindy) Tollefson of Watertown, SD and John (Michelle) Tollefson of Oshkosh, WI; 8 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; his beloved sister, Melba Sorben of Huron, SD; sister-in-law, Nell (LaVerne) of Huron, SD and his brother-in-law, Allen Miiller (Pauline) of Mt. Vernon, SD. Herbert was preceded in death by his first wife, Mary; son, David Tollefson; brothers, Lyle and LaVerne; sisters, Beulah Johnson and Pauline Miiller and his parents. Herb wouldn't expect you to, but if you really want to, send flowers - Country Girl Floral - 605 760-0031. Memorials may be sent to Salem Reformed Church, PO Box 304, Menno SD, 57045.