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Charles Ollerof Vivian, South Dakota, died on Wednesday, December 12, 2018
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Charles Oller was born on May 6, 1936 in Pierre, South Dakota to Richard and Ethel (Peterman) Oller, the eldest of three children. He was known as Charlie and Dick to many people. He graduated from Vivian high school in 1955 and attended Black Hills State for his Bachelor’s degree. He married Beth Bechard in 1965 and they lived in Sioux City Iowa while completing his Master’s degree from the University of South Dakota in Vermillion. They moved to Powell, WY where he taught college classes for one year, before moving back to the family farm southwest of Vivian in 1967. He went into farming, raising hogs and several breeds of cattle over the years. His passion was in winter wheat farming, although he raised many different crops like corn, sunflowers, milo, soybeans, and millet over the years. He was not afraid to experiment.
He taught math classes including algebra, advanced math, and geometry at the Vivian High School and also in Presho.
Charles and Beth had one daughter, Anna, and Charles always attended her annual school play and piano recitals.
He was an active member of the South Dakota Flying Farmers for over 45 years, serving as President in 1979 and voted as Man of the Year in 1981. He obtained his private pilot’s license with an instrument rating, traveling all over Mexico, Costa Rica, and Canada using their own plane. He even flew Anna back to Chadron, Nebraska for college one winter when the weather was too bad to drive.
He enjoyed dancing, taking numerous dance classes in Draper.
He was elected to the West Central Electric board in Murdo in 1990. He served as the secretary/treasurer for 17 years, and as board chairman for 12 years. He also served on the Rushmore Electric board in Rapid City for several years. He enjoyed learning about electricity and being an advocate for its members. He also served on the Vivian township board for many years, where he served as Secretary.
Traveling was also one of Charles’s passions. Charles and Beth traveled to Australia, Costa Rica, Fiji, Alaska and Hawaii, besides the majority of the continental United States. They participated in many bus tours including several to Minnesota to the Chanhassen dinner theater and the Minnesota state fair. They purchased a park model house in Sunflower Resort in Surprise, AZ in the 1990’s and enjoyed being winter birds there with their friends.
In 2017 he was remarried to Louella Cadiz, and his friend Vernah would take him traveling to places such as Washington, D.C., Texas, Arizona, Cincinnati, and Branson.
Survivors include his wife Louella of Vivian; one daughter Anna (Dave) of Warrensburg, Missouri; one sister Nancy Pilkington of Norfolk, Virginia; sister-in-laws Karen (Jim) Gilman of Kennebec, Lois Carlson of Webster, Sandy Oller of Missoula, Montana, brother-in-law Bill Laufenberg of Whitewood, and Vernah Cadiz-Petersen of Lincoln, Nebraska; and numerous cousins, nieces, and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Beth, and his brother John.
A visitation will be held two hours prior to the funeral service.
Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. CST on Friday, December 21, at the Vivian Auditorium in Vivian.
Interment will be at the Vivian Cemetery.
VISITATION
Friday, December 21, 2018 - 9-11 a.m. CST
Vivian Auditorium
Vivian, South Dakota
FUNERAL SERVICE
Friday, December 21, 2018 - 11:00 a.m.
Vivian Auditorium
Vivian, South Dakota
CLERGY
Reverend Ed Coates
MUSIC
Wayne Smith - Musician
“In The Garden”
“The Old Rugged Cross”
“Take My Hand Precious Lord”
USHERS
Bob Patrick - Barry Valburg
PALLBEARERS
Joe Connot - Jeff Birkeland - Justin Boyle
Wesley Boyle - Kenny Booth - Jim Smith
HONORARY PALLBEARERS
All Relatives and Friends in Attendance
INTERMENT
Vivian Cemetery
Vivian, South Dakota