Floyd Kallenberger, age 92, of Huron, died Sunday, November 6, 2016, at the SunQuest Healthcare Center. His funeral service was held at 2:00 PM, Saturday, November 12th, at the Congregational United Church of Christ. Burial was in the Restlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery. Memorials may be directed to Huron Regional Medical Center Foundation Scholarship Fund, Huron Regional Medical Center Home Health-Hospice or Congregational United Church of Christ.
Floyd E Kallenberger was born October 28, 1924, to Edwin Kallenberger and Christine (Pfeiffer) Kallenberger on the Kallenberger Homestead in Eureka, South Dakota. He was the oldest of five children. He did chores on the family farm and enjoyed time with his siblings. He attended country schools and graduated from Eureka High School in 1943. After high school graduation, he went back to the family farm and farmed with his family. Since it was the war years, he taught school for about a year while many of his friends and family joined the Armed Forces.
On July 7, 1946, Floyd married Frances Doerr. They farmed with his parents on the family farm and then moved to a farmstead about a half mile away. They had two children, Jerald and Wanda.
In Spring 1953, Floyd began working part time for the Soil Conversation Service in McPherson County as a soil conservation aide. He assisted with applying soil and water conservation practices to preserve our natural resources. He worked part time for the next four years as well as farming. In May 1957, he became a full time employee with the Soil Conservation Service. The family moved to Murdo, South Dakota where he worked for about 3 years. In February 1960, Floyd was transferred to Parkston, South Dakota. He assisted farmers with plantings, contour farming, and erosion control. When a new soil conservation district was created in 1963, he re-located his family to Menno, South Dakota for about ten months. Floyd was transferred to the state office in Huron, South Dakota in May 1964. At the state office he confirmed yardage computations utilizing a machine which was a forerunner of the computer. After eleven months, the job was terminated and he assumed the position of Beadle County soil conversation technician. He served Beadle County for 20 years before retiring June 3, 1985.
From 1986-1989, he worked for the City of Huron, assisting with the development of a drainage pattern which spanned west of Hitchcock and ended at Ravine Lake by collecting soil samples. He worked at Huron University from 1990-1995, assisting with lunch setup and lunch sales to the students. He also assisted with the compilation of the 2000 State of South Dakota census.
During his retirement years, Floyd sang with the Golden Duffers and the Silvertones. He was an avid card player, and enjoyed getting together at the Senior Center or having friends in to play cards. He was an active member of the Huron Area Senior Center, where he volunteered with RSVP and delivered Meals on Wheels. He was also a member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees, Kiwanis and a was a member of the Congregational Church of Christ for over 50 years, serving on many committees.
Floyd is survived by his wife of 70 years, Frances; his son, Jerald (Patti) Kallenberger, Mount Vernon, Ohio; his daughter, Wanda (Rick) Hoffman, Huron, South Dakota; four grandchildren, Joy (Naser) Abu-Shanab, St. Louis, Missouri, Jeff (Naomi) Kallenberger, Springfield, Missouri, Sara (Adam) Hicks, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Josh (Mattie) Hoffman, Sioux Falls, South Dakota; four step-grandchildren, Jesse (Neil) Huggins, Massillon, Ohio, Jacob Hash (Joanna Jones), Broadview Heights, Ohio, Stephen Hash, Kent, Ohio, and Ginny (Josh) Leffel, Kent, Ohio; six great-grandchildren, Alia Abu-Shanab, Gabe, Alec and Ashley Kallenberger, and Cooper and Emery Hicks; and one step-great-grandchild Huggins due April 2017. He is also survived by his brother, Dale Kallenberger, Casa Grande, Arizona; sisters-in-law, Bernice Franklund, Wilton, North Dakota and Delores Thurn, Wishek, North Dakota; and many nieces and nephews.
Floyd was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Waldon; his sisters, Elaine and Annette; and his daughter-in-law, Janell.