Lester C. Aaberg, 96, of Rapid City and formerly of the Sorum area of Perkins County, passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2014.
He was born June 7, 1917 in Hot Springs, SD, to Catherine (Katie Bell) Isabel (Griffin) Aaberg and Elvin Theodore Aaberg.
He spent his early years in the Hot Springs area graduating from Hot Springs High School. He did road work in Custer State Park and worked for the 7-11 Ranch.
One of the highlights of his youth was taking polo ponies for the 7-11 to California in a box car. In 1935 during the drought he helped move 150 cattle from Hot Springs to Wall and helped brand 2800 head of cattle at Buffalo Gap for the Government.
In 1936 he helped take 200 head of cattle by rail from 7-11 to Norris, Montana where they were trailed up the Madison River to the Butler's Buffalo Ranch 40 miles from West Yellowstone.
Lester went to the Perkins Co. area breaking horses and there met Viola Beatrice Haugen. They were married on June 9, 1940 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Zeona, SD.
They ranched with her parents, Thomas and Matilda Haugen, between Zeona and Sorum and moved in 1951 to their own ranch near Sorum. Lester was also a pilot and in the hard winters of 1949 and 1950 flew food, mail and sick people to help his neighbors.
He spent many hours as gunner with Gail Coe as pilot, reducing the coyote population in the northwest corner of the state. He always loved hunting and fishing and the Aaberg ranch was always a favorite with his hunting friends.
Besides running the farm/ranch he was Supervisor for the Perkins Co. Conservation District for 19 years, Director and Fire Chief of the Sorum Fire Department for 35 years, and ASCS District Committeeman, Field Reporter and Supervisor of Measuring for 20 years.
Lester's ranch received the Soil Moisture Achievement Award in Perkins Co. in 1959 and he was nominated as Perkins Co. Representative for Rangeman of the Year for SD for 1978.
Viola was a school teacher & piano teacher who taught in country schools in Perkins and Harding Co. and later taught in the Lemmon Public School system for 16 years. In 1981 Viola had a stroke and they retired and moved to the Rapid City area in 1982.
Lester then joined the Doty Volunteer Fire Department and finished up a total of 48 years working in the fire service. He enjoyed bowling & playing cards at the Senior Center in later years and was an avid reader and loved to tell stories of his life and show off his antiques.
He recently commented, I've had a good life.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two siblings who died young, his wife Viola, 4 brothers (Robert, Elvin, Jim & Eugene Aaberg), sisters (Lucille Williams & Marion Hoffman) and special friend Peggy Schenkein.
He is survived by his two children Carol Ann Aaberg of Rapid City, Dick (Adelle) Aaberg of Gladstone, MI. Three grandchildren Dan (Gaye) Aaberg, Mattawan, MI, Neil (Tricia) Aaberg, Escanaba, MI, and Chad (Mary) Aaberg of Kalamazoo. Four great grandchildren, Cameron, Emma, Katie and Abigail Aaberg, two sisters, Shirley Wortham of Hot Springs, Eloise Gull of Custer.
Services will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014 at the Kirk Funeral Home Chapel, 1051 E. Minnesota St., Rapid City, with Pastor LeRoy Flagstad officiating.
Lunch and time with family and friends to follow the funeral with a graveside service at Evergreen Cemetery in Hot Springs at 2:00 PM.
Contributor: Roy & Betty Welch (50790184)
He was born June 7, 1917 in Hot Springs, SD, to Catherine (Katie Bell) Isabel (Griffin) Aaberg and Elvin Theodore Aaberg.
He spent his early years in the Hot Springs area graduating from Hot Springs High School. He did road work in Custer State Park and worked for the 7-11 Ranch.
One of the highlights of his youth was taking polo ponies for the 7-11 to California in a box car. In 1935 during the drought he helped move 150 cattle from Hot Springs to Wall and helped brand 2800 head of cattle at Buffalo Gap for the Government.
In 1936 he helped take 200 head of cattle by rail from 7-11 to Norris, Montana where they were trailed up the Madison River to the Butler's Buffalo Ranch 40 miles from West Yellowstone.
Lester went to the Perkins Co. area breaking horses and there met Viola Beatrice Haugen. They were married on June 9, 1940 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Zeona, SD.
They ranched with her parents, Thomas and Matilda Haugen, between Zeona and Sorum and moved in 1951 to their own ranch near Sorum. Lester was also a pilot and in the hard winters of 1949 and 1950 flew food, mail and sick people to help his neighbors.
He spent many hours as gunner with Gail Coe as pilot, reducing the coyote population in the northwest corner of the state. He always loved hunting and fishing and the Aaberg ranch was always a favorite with his hunting friends.
Besides running the farm/ranch he was Supervisor for the Perkins Co. Conservation District for 19 years, Director and Fire Chief of the Sorum Fire Department for 35 years, and ASCS District Committeeman, Field Reporter and Supervisor of Measuring for 20 years.
Lester's ranch received the Soil Moisture Achievement Award in Perkins Co. in 1959 and he was nominated as Perkins Co. Representative for Rangeman of the Year for SD for 1978.
Viola was a school teacher & piano teacher who taught in country schools in Perkins and Harding Co. and later taught in the Lemmon Public School system for 16 years. In 1981 Viola had a stroke and they retired and moved to the Rapid City area in 1982.
Lester then joined the Doty Volunteer Fire Department and finished up a total of 48 years working in the fire service. He enjoyed bowling & playing cards at the Senior Center in later years and was an avid reader and loved to tell stories of his life and show off his antiques.
He recently commented, I've had a good life.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two siblings who died young, his wife Viola, 4 brothers (Robert, Elvin, Jim & Eugene Aaberg), sisters (Lucille Williams & Marion Hoffman) and special friend Peggy Schenkein.
He is survived by his two children Carol Ann Aaberg of Rapid City, Dick (Adelle) Aaberg of Gladstone, MI. Three grandchildren Dan (Gaye) Aaberg, Mattawan, MI, Neil (Tricia) Aaberg, Escanaba, MI, and Chad (Mary) Aaberg of Kalamazoo. Four great grandchildren, Cameron, Emma, Katie and Abigail Aaberg, two sisters, Shirley Wortham of Hot Springs, Eloise Gull of Custer.
Services will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014 at the Kirk Funeral Home Chapel, 1051 E. Minnesota St., Rapid City, with Pastor LeRoy Flagstad officiating.
Lunch and time with family and friends to follow the funeral with a graveside service at Evergreen Cemetery in Hot Springs at 2:00 PM.
Contributor: Roy & Betty Welch (50790184)
Lester C. Aaberg, 96, of Rapid City and formerly of the Sorum area of Perkins County, passed away peacefully at his home on Tuesday, Feb. 11, 2014.
He was born June 7, 1917 in Hot Springs, SD, to Catherine (Katie Bell) Isabel (Griffin) Aaberg and Elvin Theodore Aaberg.
He spent his early years in the Hot Springs area graduating from Hot Springs High School. He did road work in Custer State Park and worked for the 7-11 Ranch.
One of the highlights of his youth was taking polo ponies for the 7-11 to California in a box car. In 1935 during the drought he helped move 150 cattle from Hot Springs to Wall and helped brand 2800 head of cattle at Buffalo Gap for the Government.
In 1936 he helped take 200 head of cattle by rail from 7-11 to Norris, Montana where they were trailed up the Madison River to the Butler's Buffalo Ranch 40 miles from West Yellowstone.
Lester went to the Perkins Co. area breaking horses and there met Viola Beatrice Haugen. They were married on June 9, 1940 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Zeona, SD.
They ranched with her parents, Thomas and Matilda Haugen, between Zeona and Sorum and moved in 1951 to their own ranch near Sorum. Lester was also a pilot and in the hard winters of 1949 and 1950 flew food, mail and sick people to help his neighbors.
He spent many hours as gunner with Gail Coe as pilot, reducing the coyote population in the northwest corner of the state. He always loved hunting and fishing and the Aaberg ranch was always a favorite with his hunting friends.
Besides running the farm/ranch he was Supervisor for the Perkins Co. Conservation District for 19 years, Director and Fire Chief of the Sorum Fire Department for 35 years, and ASCS District Committeeman, Field Reporter and Supervisor of Measuring for 20 years.
Lester's ranch received the Soil Moisture Achievement Award in Perkins Co. in 1959 and he was nominated as Perkins Co. Representative for Rangeman of the Year for SD for 1978.
Viola was a school teacher & piano teacher who taught in country schools in Perkins and Harding Co. and later taught in the Lemmon Public School system for 16 years. In 1981 Viola had a stroke and they retired and moved to the Rapid City area in 1982.
Lester then joined the Doty Volunteer Fire Department and finished up a total of 48 years working in the fire service. He enjoyed bowling & playing cards at the Senior Center in later years and was an avid reader and loved to tell stories of his life and show off his antiques.
He recently commented, I've had a good life.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two siblings who died young, his wife Viola, 4 brothers (Robert, Elvin, Jim & Eugene Aaberg), sisters (Lucille Williams & Marion Hoffman) and special friend Peggy Schenkein.
He is survived by his two children Carol Ann Aaberg of Rapid City, Dick (Adelle) Aaberg of Gladstone, MI. Three grandchildren Dan (Gaye) Aaberg, Mattawan, MI, Neil (Tricia) Aaberg, Escanaba, MI, and Chad (Mary) Aaberg of Kalamazoo. Four great grandchildren, Cameron, Emma, Katie and Abigail Aaberg, two sisters, Shirley Wortham of Hot Springs, Eloise Gull of Custer.
Services will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014 at the Kirk Funeral Home Chapel, 1051 E. Minnesota St., Rapid City, with Pastor LeRoy Flagstad officiating.
Lunch and time with family and friends to follow the funeral with a graveside service at Evergreen Cemetery in Hot Springs at 2:00 PM.
Contributor: Roy & Betty Welch (50790184)
He was born June 7, 1917 in Hot Springs, SD, to Catherine (Katie Bell) Isabel (Griffin) Aaberg and Elvin Theodore Aaberg.
He spent his early years in the Hot Springs area graduating from Hot Springs High School. He did road work in Custer State Park and worked for the 7-11 Ranch.
One of the highlights of his youth was taking polo ponies for the 7-11 to California in a box car. In 1935 during the drought he helped move 150 cattle from Hot Springs to Wall and helped brand 2800 head of cattle at Buffalo Gap for the Government.
In 1936 he helped take 200 head of cattle by rail from 7-11 to Norris, Montana where they were trailed up the Madison River to the Butler's Buffalo Ranch 40 miles from West Yellowstone.
Lester went to the Perkins Co. area breaking horses and there met Viola Beatrice Haugen. They were married on June 9, 1940 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Zeona, SD.
They ranched with her parents, Thomas and Matilda Haugen, between Zeona and Sorum and moved in 1951 to their own ranch near Sorum. Lester was also a pilot and in the hard winters of 1949 and 1950 flew food, mail and sick people to help his neighbors.
He spent many hours as gunner with Gail Coe as pilot, reducing the coyote population in the northwest corner of the state. He always loved hunting and fishing and the Aaberg ranch was always a favorite with his hunting friends.
Besides running the farm/ranch he was Supervisor for the Perkins Co. Conservation District for 19 years, Director and Fire Chief of the Sorum Fire Department for 35 years, and ASCS District Committeeman, Field Reporter and Supervisor of Measuring for 20 years.
Lester's ranch received the Soil Moisture Achievement Award in Perkins Co. in 1959 and he was nominated as Perkins Co. Representative for Rangeman of the Year for SD for 1978.
Viola was a school teacher & piano teacher who taught in country schools in Perkins and Harding Co. and later taught in the Lemmon Public School system for 16 years. In 1981 Viola had a stroke and they retired and moved to the Rapid City area in 1982.
Lester then joined the Doty Volunteer Fire Department and finished up a total of 48 years working in the fire service. He enjoyed bowling & playing cards at the Senior Center in later years and was an avid reader and loved to tell stories of his life and show off his antiques.
He recently commented, I've had a good life.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two siblings who died young, his wife Viola, 4 brothers (Robert, Elvin, Jim & Eugene Aaberg), sisters (Lucille Williams & Marion Hoffman) and special friend Peggy Schenkein.
He is survived by his two children Carol Ann Aaberg of Rapid City, Dick (Adelle) Aaberg of Gladstone, MI. Three grandchildren Dan (Gaye) Aaberg, Mattawan, MI, Neil (Tricia) Aaberg, Escanaba, MI, and Chad (Mary) Aaberg of Kalamazoo. Four great grandchildren, Cameron, Emma, Katie and Abigail Aaberg, two sisters, Shirley Wortham of Hot Springs, Eloise Gull of Custer.
Services will be held at 10:00 AM on Saturday, Feb. 22, 2014 at the Kirk Funeral Home Chapel, 1051 E. Minnesota St., Rapid City, with Pastor LeRoy Flagstad officiating.
Lunch and time with family and friends to follow the funeral with a graveside service at Evergreen Cemetery in Hot Springs at 2:00 PM.
Contributor: Roy & Betty Welch (50790184)
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