Ivan Arthur Wille

A funeral service for Ivan Arthur Wille was held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, February 8, 2025, at Zion Lutheran Church in Colome, SD, with Pastor Don Windsperger officiating.

Music was provided by Roxie Summerville, organist. Registration and flower attendants were Lori Kalenda and Kathy Hrabanek. Casket bearers were Serena Simkins, Dustin Allum, Joseph Allum, Michael Worden, Jacob Worden, and Todd Assman. Honorary casket bearers were all his grandchildren.

Interment was at the Colome city cemetery.

Kotrba-Smith Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Ivan Arthur Wille was born April 5, 1944, to Arthur and Anna (Hauf) Wille at Community Memorial Hospital in Burke, SD. He was the youngest of three children. Ivan attended country school south of Dallas through the eighth grade. The graduation ceremony was held at the community center in Burke.

Ivan remained in the Tripp and Gregory County area where he worked for farmers doing various jobs and farm work. When needed, he drove the milk truck to pick up milk from the dairy farms. He also worked as a butcher and at South Fork his final years of employment.

Ivan met his wife of 61 years, Mary Sargent, at a dance in Dallas. They were married May 18, 1963, in Burke. Three children were born to this union. They remained in the local area, settling southwest of Dallas for 45 years before moving to Gregory in the fall of 2023.

Ivan learned to play music by ear and was able to play many string instruments. His love for music led him to play guitar with neighbors, his sister’s band (Nola & the Ranch Hands), his own band (Country Poor Boys), and with his siblings at family gatherings. You could find Ivan enjoying a good game of pitch with local friends, and in his spare time he enjoyed working with horses, fishing, and hunting.

Ivan was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith. On February 1, 2025, Ivan joined the Lord and is now resting peacefully.

He is preceded in death by his parents Arthur and Anna Wille, parents- in-law Hollis and Olive Sargent, four brothers-in-law, one sister-inlaw, and two great-grandchildren—Brayden Worden and Perrie Frasch.

Ivan is survived by his wife Mary Wille; daughters Sherrie Allum, Rita (Bob) Frasch, and Karen (Ray) Worden; grandchildren Serena Simkins, Dustin (Amanda) Allum, Joseph (Brea) Allum, Cody (Lee-a) Frasch, Travis (Katie) Frasch, Michael (Michelle) Worden, and Jacob Worden; great-grandchildren Xavier Simkins, DaSean Simkins, Raesha Beck, Daxon Bloomquist, Deegan Bloomquist, Dawson Allum, Oscar Allum, Austin Frasch, Jesse Frasch, Dani Frasch, Graysen Worden, and Sutton Worden; sisters Nola Hansen and Norma Labahn (Bill Bussinger); sisters-in-law Maggie Holmberg and Juanita Oliver; and many nieces and nephews.