Elmer Kludt

WOONSOCKET- Elmer Kludt, 85 of Woonsocket and formally of Alpena died on Saturday, June 16, 2007 at the Royal C. Johnson Veterans Administration Medical Center in Sioux Falls. His funeral will be at 10:00 A.M. Thursday, June 21, 2007 at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Huron. Burial with military rites will be at Restlawn Memory Gardens near Huron. Visitation will be at Welter Funeral Home in Huron on Wednesday 4-9 P.M. with a 7:00 P.M. prayer service. Vistiation will resume one hour prior to services at the church on Thursday. Elmer Kludt was born on Monday, May 8, 1922 to Robert and Elsie (Zeeck) Kludt on the family farm near Yale, South Dakota. He attended grade school in Carthage and Forestburg. After he received his education he worked for area farmers. In 1942 he entered the U.S. Army Air Force and served his country overseas in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. On July 28, 1943 he married Margaret Rieck in Clearwater, Florida. After his discharge from the service in November 1945 the couple made their home in the Iroquois, Yale and DeSmet areas where they farmed. In the spring of 1957 they moved the Alpena area where they raised their eight children. In 1981 the couple moved off their rural Alpena farm into Alpena. Margaret passed away 0n June 17, 1990. After her death he continued to live in Alpena. On July 8, 1993 he married Bertha (Diede) Bittner in Wessington Springs, South Dakota. They continued to live in Alpena until March 2004 when they moved to their current residence in Woonsocket. Elmer was a member of Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Woonsocket and served on their various boards. He was a member of the American Legion for many years. He loved to hunt and fish. In his retirement he took up woodworking as a hobby. He also took great pride in his large garden and the maintenance of his lawn. Elmer passed away on Saturday, June 16, 2007 at Sioux Falls, South Dakota at the age of 85 years, 1 month and 8 days. He is survived by his wife, Bertha of Woonsocket; four sons, Tim (Cheryle) Kludt of Lakeville, MN, Terry Kludt of Alpena, SD, Tony (Barbara) Kludt of Miller, SD and Joel (Lory) Kludt of Sioux Falls, SD; four daughters, Barbara (John) Stupero of Rush City, MN, Peggy (David) Ninke of Webster, SD, Betty (Glen) Macauley of Carpenter, SD and Ellen (Craig Newstrom) Kludt of St. Francis, MN; two brothers, Robert (Queenda) Kludt of Elk Grove, CA and Max “Doc” (Lila) Kludt of Huron, SD; three sisters, Hazel Johnson of Hinckley, MN, Laura Jones of Huron, SD and Gladys (Siegfred) Noack of Artesian, SD; eighteen grandchildren and eighteen great grandchildren. Also close to Elmer were his step-children, step-grandchildren and step-greatgrandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, first wife and two brothers, Calvin and Marvin.