Rolla E. Stoltenburg

Rolla was called home by his heavenly Father on January 4, 2022.  Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, January 8, 2022, at St. Martin’s Lutheran Church in Watertown.  Rev. Paul Janke will officiate.  Music will be provided by Karen Livingston as organist with the congregation singing.  The service will be live-streamed on our website and Facebook live.

Visitation will be at Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Friday from 5-7 p.m.

Burial will be at Mt. Hope Cemetery in Watertown.  Honorary pallbearers will be granddaughters: Jenna (Everson) Hieb, Brooke Prouty, Katelyn (Stoltenburg) Briscoe, Tessa Stoltenburg; and all of Rolla's nieces and nephews.  Active pallbearers will be grandsons: Corey Stoltenburg, Jeff Everson, Kirk Foster, Jason Foster, Colten Stoltenburg, Chase Prouty, Dustin Prouty, and Tyler Stoltenburg.

Rolla was baptized and confirmed in St. Martin’s Lutheran Church in Watertown, SD. He attended grade school at Gardner #14 and graduated from Watertown High School in 1951.

On February 14, 1954, Rolla was united in marriage to Betty Lucille Kriesel at St. Martin’s Lutheran Church.   The couple farmed with his dad and brother until Rolla was drafted into the U.S. Navy in November, 1955.  He served on the aircraft carrier, the USS Oriskany, touring on waters near Japan, the Philippine Islands, China and Hawaii.  They lived on various naval bases in California.   Following Rolla’s honorable discharge in 1957, the couple returned to farming in the Watertown area.   Rolla and Betty, his life partner, celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary in 2019.

Rolla’s love of God and family were most important.   He enjoyed spending time and playing tricks with his grandchildren.  He treasured his conversations with each of them.  Rolla’s favorite hobby was visiting with people, both strangers and friends. 

He was very proud of his farming life.  He enjoyed raising cattle, watching his crops and, in recent years, his garden grow and mature from planting to harvest.  He loved to observe the changing countryside from his four-wheeler and his pickup.

Rolla is survived by his children:  Roxann (Curt) Everson of Pierre, SD, Rodney (Betty) Stoltenburg of Portland, OR, Dianne (Rich) Foster of West Fargo, ND, Nikki (Todd) Prouty of Cedar Rapids, IA, and Brian (Jacquie) Stoltenburg of Watertown, SD; 12 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; 2 step-great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. 

He was preceded in death by is wife, Betty; his parents, Emil and Gertrude Stoltenburg; his sister Delores and her husband Merle Briggs; brothers Leonard and his wife Dorothy Stoltenburg; Norman and his wife Marjorie Stoltenburg; and Bernard and his wife Beverly Stoltenburg. 

Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel              www.crawfordosthus.com

Watertown, Hayti, De Smet, Bryant

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