IN MEMORY

IVAN CLEO ELSE
Valley Springs, South Dakota
Died: Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Age: 90 years, 11 months, 13 days

PRAYER SERVICE
7:00 PM Friday, September 25, 2009
George Boom Funeral Chapel, Brandon, SD
Pastor Ray Heidenson, Officiating

FUNERAL SERVICE
2:00 PM Saturday, September 26, 2009
First Lutheran Church, Valley Springs, SD
Ellen Aadland, Organist
Art Aadland, Vocalist
Congregational Hymn
"How Great Thou Art"
Special Music
"Go Rest High on That Mountain"
"Amazing Grace"
"Just Beyond the Moon"

INTERMENT
Pleasant View Cemetery, Valley Springs, SD

PALLBEARERS
Mark Moeller ~ Matt Swenson ~ Ryan Wiese
Arlo Schubert ~ Brian Sexe ~ Todd Long

HONORARY PALLBEARERS
Neil Scadden ~ Bert VerMeer ~ Jim Vandenburg
John Bresee ~ Marvin Coulter ~ Tom Faber

Valley Springs, SD – Ivan C. Else, 90, died Tuesday, September 22, 2009 at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD.

A visitation will be 12:00 PM Friday, September 25, 2009 at George Boom Funeral Chapel in Brandon, SD with the family present from 5:00 PM to 8:00 PM and a Prayer Service and Time of Sharing at 7:00 PM. A funeral service will be 2:00 PM Saturday, September 26, 2009 at First Lutheran Church in Valley Springs, SD with burial to follow in Pleasant View Cemetery in Valley Springs.

Ivan Cleo Else, the son of Edwin Charles and Elizabeth Sword (Crane) Else was born October 9, 1918 in rural Valley Springs. He graduated from high school in Valley Springs. Ivan served in the U.S. Army, and was a decorated veteran of World War II.

On June 6, 1952, Ivan was united in marriage with Vivian Elaine Letcher in Luverne, MN. Ivan worked at the Sioux Falls Stockyards for 35 years as the Night Supervisor, retiring in 1984. He also was employed as a Brandon School District bus driver. Not only did Ivan drive for all ages of students, he drove the bus for numerous sporting events throughout his career.

Ivan was a member of First Lutheran Church in Valley Springs and lived in Valley Springs his entire life. He was also a member of the American Legion in Valley Springs, the D.A.V., the 40 - 8, and a lifetime member of the V.F.W. in Brandon. Ivan enjoyed sports, hunting, and camping. He was especially fond of family gatherings, vacations at Ottertail Lake, MN, and attending Brandon Valley Sporting Events. He had been inducted in the Brandon Valley Athletic Hall of Fame.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Vivian Elaine of Valley Springs; children, Amanda Pauline (Kieth) Thorson of Hardwick, MN, Connie (Bob) Hayne of Rapid City, SD, Candy Larson of Luverne, MN, Cregg (Rhonda) Else of Sioux Falls, Alan (Roslyn) Else of Barboursville, WV, Kathy (Tony) Carda of Valley Springs, Tammi (Mark) Neuroth of Sioux Falls, Wade (Melinda) Else of Brandon, SD, Launa Else of Valley Springs; 26 grandchildren; 25 great-grandchildren; a sister, Ila-Jean Sexe of Sioux Falls; and a host of other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, Edwin and Elizabeth; a brother, Merle; a great-granddaughter, Emma Lynn; and a niece, Judy.