The memorial service for Rueben Hermann will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Oct. 17, 2012, at the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Langford. The Rev. Charlie Bunk will officiate and inurnment will be in Sunset Memorial Gardens of Aberdeen.
Rueben passed away Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012, at Avera St. Luke's Hospital in Aberdeen at the age of 89, surrounded by his family. He was just three weeks short of his 90th birthday.
Rueben Hermann was born Nov. 4, 1922, to Christian and Emma
(Kirschenman) Hermann on a farm near Eureka. He grew up there and attended rural schools. He was baptized at the Congregational Church. His father died in 1935. As a teenager, Rueben and his brother, Herbert, worked for local farmers in the Eden area. He later worked for W.W. Thorp at the Thorp Ranch near Britton. It was there he met his future wife.
Rueben was married to Genevieve Nelson on Oct. 17, 1945. He continued to work for the Thorp Ranch until 1955. At that time, the family moved to Aberdeen, where Rueben was employed by Schnerle Road Construction.
In Jan. of 1957, the family moved to the farm by Langford, which was purchased from Stanley and Mae Carson. For a while, they milked cows, raised pigs and chickens and had stock cattle. Later Rueben just raised crops and stock cows. He really liked his cattle and often named some of them. When he retired, he missed his cows the most. He was happy when his renter had cows close to the house so he could watch them.
Rueben loved his family most of all. He loved being a grandparent. He was proud of his family and talked about them often. He especially enjoyed visits from the grandkids. He was always trying to feed them, especially ice cream! He always had some in the freezer for those special stops.
Rueben lost his wife in 2004, but continued to live on the farm. He took care of the house, the yard, a garden and a number of cats.
Rueben is survived by a daughter, Sandra (Harlan) Bistodeau of Claremont; two grandsons: Todd (Jenny Johnson) Bistodeau of Aberdeen; Darren (Dawn) Bistodeau of Florence; seven great-grandchildren: Natasha, Kelsey and Taylor Bistodeau, Landon McGillvrey, Haydon, Lawson and Holdon Bistodeau; and a great-great-grandson, Bradyn Comeau. Also surviving him are five sisters: Frieda Kallenberger, Leah Murphy, Esther Aman, Violet (Donald) Lessard, Delores (Tony) Marino; and one brother, Chris Herman.
Preceding him in death were his parents, his wife and three brothers: Edmund, Herbert and Eugene.
Arrangements have been entrusted to the Price Funeral Chapel of Britton.
An online guestbook and obituary are available at pricefuneralchapel.net.