Calvin Harry Stomped

Calvin Harry Stomprud, 96 of Sturgis, formerly of Mud Butte, was born September 21, 1921, to Ollie and Winnifred (Shryock) Stomprud at Wessington Springs, SD, joining siblings Chester and Elanor. He died May 8, 2018, at Sturgis Regional Senior Care.
    In 1909, Ollie and Winnie each homesteaded claims on land now part of the Stomprud Ranch headquartered about eight miles southeast of Mud Butte, SD. Calvin attended Squaw Butte School for grades 1-8, a horseback ride of about three and a half miles. He attended tenth grade at Fox Ridge School near Maurine and completed high school, graduating from Newell High School in 1940.
    Following high school, Calvin attended South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, following his interest in rocks by majoring in geological engineering. With one quarter left until graduation, he was drafted into the U.S. Navy, joining other members of the Great Generation, serving from 1944-1946. He sailed to Japan following V-J Day returning troops from occupied Japan.
He returned to the family ranch upon discharge and married Mable Ingalls, the love of his life, on June 15, 1947, and without whom he was seldom seen. To this union were born five children, Larry, Elaine, Verne, Gay, and Sharon. Verne passed away at the age of 18.
    In 1959, when his dad retired, he and his brother, Chester, formed a partnership and in 1961, they purchased a ranch in southern Perkins County, to which Chester moved. They were one of the first ranches in western South Dakota to implement Production Records to improve their Hereford cow herd. Calvin was an avid supporter of the 4-H program, especially when his children were of 4-H age. Stomprud Brothers Herefords raised and sold registered Hereford bulls and feeder cattle that at least one order buyer described as “as good a’ Hereford cattle that walked.” In 1985, he and Chester dissolved their partnership. Calvin was a good steward of the land by cross fencing, water development, tree planting, and careful grazing management. In 2007, he was honored by the Black Hills Stock Show with the Didier Pioneer Award.
    In 1995 at the age of 74, Calvin turned over operation of the ranch to son, Larry, who returned to the ranch having retired from the Army.
    Calvin was an active member of the Meade County Farm Bureau, Meade County Stockgrowers, Black Hills Hereford Association, and South Dakota Stockgrowers. He served as President of both the Meade County Farm Bureau and Meade County Stockgrowers. He also served on the School Board of Squaw Butte District #9 prior to consolidation of districts.
    Calvin was a faithful member of either Prairie Home Church or Opal Community Church and served as both Sunday School Superintendent and on the Board of Directors. His faith was an important part of his life and an example to his family and the community.
    He enjoyed traveling, sightseeing, hunting, fishing (when there used to be water), rock and artifact hunting, and collecting of all kinds, accumulating collections of rocks, fossils, Indian artifacts, and antique tools among other things. He and Mable especially enjoyed auctions, flea markets, and antique stores, looking for that “real deal” to add to his museum which he built in 2003. He was always young at heart, having downhill skied for the first time at age 66, killed his first elk at age 85, and at 90 years old, was still cutting and splitting wood for his home-built petrified wood fireplace. He took particular delight in his grandkids and enjoyed taking them fishing whenever they visited.
    Survivors include his wife, Mable Stomprud, Sturgis; son, Larry (Eileen), Mud Butte; daughters, Elaine (Alfred) Bell, Cleveland, GA, Gay (Ron) Lund, Columbus, NE, and Sharon (Paul) Tracy, Garden Valley, ID; grandchildren, Lisa (Tony) Stomprud, Jay (Jennifer) Stomprud, Brian (Shannon) Bell, Tamara (Eric) Hybertson, Jennifer Lund, Ryan (Lindsay) Lund, Melodie (Brandon) Buss, Anthony Tracy, William Tracy, Nathan Tracy, and Jason Tracy; 13 great-grandchildren; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Hugh and Eleanor Ingalls, Neal and Elaine Rowett, Dale and Marie Ingalls, and Mike and Virginia Brandt; and numerous nieces, nephews, and great-nieces and nephews.
    He was preceded in death by his parents; siblings, Chester and Elanor and their spouses; son, Verne; and five nieces and nephews.
    Funeral services were Friday, May 18, 2018, at the First Presbyterian Church in Sturgis with Rev. Denzel Nonhof and Pastor Steve Talley officiating. Burial, with military honors, followed at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.
    Memorials have been established to the Opal Church and Bright Focus Foundation.

The Pioneer Review

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Philip, SD 57567
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