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Truman Douglas Elder

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Birth	:	3 Apr 1921 Dewey County, South Dakota, USA
Death	:	23 Oct 2000 Miller, Hand County, South Dakota, USA
Burial	:	Pride of Brockton Cemetery, Stoughton, Norfolk County, USA
Coordinate	:	42.1061000, -71.0617500
Description	:	My dear grandfather. A very wonderful man. A good friend to everyone he knew, and even people he didn't know. This is the original obituary run in the Miller Press, and also printed in the original funeral memorial pamphlets - TRUMAN D. ELDER Truman D. Elder, 79, of Miller,S.D., died Monday, October 23, 2000 at Hand County Memorial Hospital in Miller following a four month illness. Truman Douglas Elder was born April 3, 1921 in Landau, S.D., to Jess and Johanna (Sogge) Elder. At an early age, the family moved to Timber Lake where he... Read More	My dear grandfather. A very wonderful man. A good friend to everyone he knew, and even people he didn't know. This is the original obituary run in the Miller Press, and also printed in the original funeral memorial pamphlets - TRUMAN D. ELDER Truman D. Elder, 79, of Miller,S.D., died Monday, October 23, 2000 at Hand County Memorial Hospital in Miller following a four month illness. Truman Douglas Elder was born April 3, 1921 in Landau, S.D., to Jess and Johanna (Sogge) Elder. At an early age, the family moved to Timber Lake where he attended school. He went to Wessington Springs College where he met his future wife, Shirley Thompson. They were married in Coeur d' Alene, Idaho, December 15, 1942. He was serving in the U.S. Army and was stationed at Spokane, Wash. He served in the Asiatic Pacific in Radio Intelligence decoding Japanese messages. After the war, they moved to Miller where he began working as the assistant manager of J.C. Penny and later sold insulation for Tri-State Insulation. In 1948, he joined the Postal Service and retired in 1978 following 30 years of service. He was a lifelong member of the United Methodist Church, served on the Miller City Council for 25 years, was a member of the American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars and a 50 year member of the National Association of Letter Carriers. Survivors include his wife, Shirley; one son, Jack(Mary)Elder of Sioux City, Iowa; one daughter, Susan(Pat)Ryan of Tyler, Texas; four grandsons, Chris(Sarah)Elder, Jess Elder, Matt Elder, and Daniel Ryan; one sister-in-law, Genevieve Elder; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins. He was preceded in death by his two parents, two brothers, and one sister. HIS SERVICES - Funeral arrangements were made with and conducted by Reck Funeral Home of Miller, S.D., with interment in the G.A.R. Cemetery of Miller, S.D. Casketbearers were Jack Elder, Pat Ryan, Chris Elder, Jess Elder & Daniel Ryan Public memorial services were held at the United Methodist Church of Miller, S.D., with Rev. Richard Gould & Rev. Beth Kelsey-Englemann officiating. =================================== Grandpa was one of the kindest people I have ever met. I never saw a person that didn't like him, and we could travel all over the country, to different places, and different cultures, and he could always strike up a conversation with the locals! He had so many wonderful stories to tell, and he was always in the mood to talk with anyone of any age. He was a wonderful husband to his wife Shirley, and a loving father two his two wonderful children, Jack and Susan. They always tell me of a good childhood, with lots of love in the home. Grandpa served this nation to help keep the freedom we enjoy in WWII, and luckily made it back alive, to raise a family, and live a good life of 79 years, celebrating over fifty years of marriage with grandma. Grandma Elder still cries when she thinks of him today, because they were a match made in heaven. They were as close as any two people could be in this world! He worked many jobs in and around Miller, including selling insulation, working for JC Penny, and of course, being the mail carrier. He knew everybody in Miller, and everybody knew, and loved him in return. He even knew people outside of Miller, all over the state. He really never met a "stranger". But, if there is one thing I will always aim for in my own life, it was how well he got along with in-laws. Most people speak of how they dislike their in-laws, but Truman loved all of his family,blood or not, very much. He loved his daughter-in-law Mary like one of his own children, as well as my father Pat. My father, Pat, had a rather strained upbringing. His father paid very little attention to him, and he never really had an opportunity to have a good father figure. However, all that changed after my mother and him married in 1983. From the first time my father met Truman in 1983 until Truman's death in 2000, he was the father figure my own father was unable to have growing up. He was also my father's best friend, and I never recall in my life ever seeing my father cry, except when Truman died, they were the best of friends. They would drive all over the South Dakota countryside, grandpa telling dad stories about the heritage of the land and it's people, or they would get coffee and just talk for hours. As I aged, I realized relationships between son-in-laws and father-in-laws are rarely like this, so it was a joy to be able to see them be such good friends. Grandpa also loved his grandkids with all of his heart. His grandsons Chris, Jess and Matt were Jack's boys, and they always were doing something fun every time they would come in from Iowa to visit, and they always have fond memories of coming to Miller with Jack and Mary to visit when they were young. I always looked forward to visits to Miller, but could hardly wait out the 24+ hour drive from Texas to South Dakota. He and I always had fun together, either building something in his woodworking shop in his basement, fishing, or just doing something with he and my dad was fun enough for me. One a few occasions, all of the family was together, and that was big fun! I rarely got to see them all, and we would fish, build things, or just hang around the house and talk all day. As long as grandpa was alive and well, Miller, SD was as close to heaven as I had ever been! I truly miss those days, but know I will see him again one day, as he was a firm believer in Jesus Christ, and I know he is well now!

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Truman Douglas Elder's memorial?
Truman Douglas Elder's memorial is located at: Pride of Brockton Cemetery, Stoughton, Norfolk County, USA.
When did Truman Douglas Elder death?
Truman Douglas Elder death on 23 Oct 2000 in Miller, Hand County, South Dakota, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Truman Douglas Elder's memorial?
Latitude: 42.1061000
Longitude: -71.0617500

Family Members:

Parent

Johanna Sogge Elder

(1893 - 1958)

Jesse Constantine Elder

(1888 - 1963)

Spouse

Shirley Thompson Elder

(1921 - 2017)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Pride of Brockton Cemetery
Stoughton, Norfolk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1061000, -71.0617500

2. Porter Family Cemetery
Stoughton, Norfolk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1063300, -71.0614000

3. Melrose Cemetery
Brockton, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0931015, -71.0678024

4. Thayer Cemetery
Brockton, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0880241, -71.0505142

5. Avon Cemetery
Avon, Norfolk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1187401, -71.0309982

6. Marshall - Bird Cemetery
Stoughton, Norfolk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0944000, -71.0950300

7. East Main Street Cemetery
Avon, Norfolk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1262300, -71.0363000

8. Evergreen Cemetery
Stoughton, Norfolk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1160088, -71.0987473

9. Saint Michaels Cemetery
Avon, Norfolk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1285210, -71.0299835

10. Curtis Family Cemetery
Avon, Norfolk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1392700, -71.0569500

11. Maplewood Cemetery
Stoughton, Norfolk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1366997, -71.0800018

12. Ashland Cemetery
Brockton, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0942726, -71.0190353

13. Ichabod Manley Cemetery
North Easton, Bristol County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0855783, -71.0982226

14. Mulberry Street Cemetery (Defunct)
Brockton, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0933960, -71.0161800

15. Snell Cemetery
Brockton, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0716670, -71.0427170

16. Washington Street Cemetery
Easton, Bristol County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0741997, -71.0888977

17. Pearl Street Cemetery
Stoughton, Norfolk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1281013, -71.1044006

18. Wendell Cemetery
Holbrook, Norfolk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1232986, -71.0139008

19. Calvary Cemetery
Brockton, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0917015, -71.0056000

20. Holy Sepulchre Cemetery
Stoughton, Norfolk County, USA
Coordinate: 42.1361008, -71.1053009

21. Saint Patricks Cemetery
Brockton, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0889015, -71.0068970

22. Union Cemetery
Brockton, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0838100, -71.0092200

23. Capt Elisha Harvey Cemetery
Easton, Bristol County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0714040, -71.1036850

24. Old Coweeset Cemetery
Brockton, Plymouth County, USA
Coordinate: 42.0588200, -71.0649940