Wallace P. “Red” Willoughby

Wallace P. “Red” Willoughby, Midland, S.D., beloved husband, father, brother, grandfather, uncle and friend died January 5, 2017, at the Avera Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls at the age of 88.

 

Wallace was born on October 30, 1928. He was the oldest of two children born to John Jeffery and Anna (Wolff) Willoughby. 

 

He grew up and lived his entire life on the family farm 17 miles north of Midland, where he still resided at the time of his passing.  He attended grade school in rural Haakon County at Pleasant View #26 and high school in Midland. He stayed out of school for one year to help his mother on the farm after his father’s death in 1944 and then returned to graduate in 1947.

 

In 1950, Wallace married his high school sweetheart, Irene Eckert, also of Midland. They lived on the family farm the entire 66 years of their marriage, raising cattle, wheat and other crops. Here, they raised four of their five children as their son, Monte, passed away in 1955.

 

During his youth, Wallace’s favorite pastimes included playing sports, singing and fast driving. As a young man, he played whist in card tournaments for many years and also participated in a bowling league. In later years, he enjoyed coin collecting, watching the Twins and Vikings on TV and was an avid reader. He read the Bible completely through two times.

 

In addition to hard work on the farm, he was a faithful follower of his children’s activities, rarely missing an opportunity to see them participate. Oftentimes, he got up very early to complete the farm work so he could drive his car and later the school bus full of kids to a sporting, drama, or music event, which was something he thoroughly enjoyed.

 

Wallace was a dedicated community member, serving as a member of the Midland School Board, a director on the ASCS board and the Midland Co-op, church councils and was a 4-H leader for many years. In 1990, he joined the Haakon County Crooners and put his music talents back to use.

 

In 1984, Wallace was awarded the first place Soil and Moisture Achievement award for the Haakon County Conservation District. In 2010, he also accepted the Century Farm Certificate for 100 years on the Willoughby Family Farm.

 

Wallace was baptized and confirmed at Trinity Lutheran Church in Midland in 1955. He later joined Grace Lutheran Church in Hayes in 1996. He and Irene were also members of Luke Bible Study for nearly 45 years.

 

Grateful for having shared his life include his wife, Irene; son, Tim (Cathy) of Las Vegas,  Nev., daughter, Patty (Ron Piper) of Evanston, Wyo., sons Jeff (Julie) and Tony (Gaynold), both of Midland; sister, Alice (George) Evans of Belle Fourche; four grandchildren, Amy Escobar (Xerxes Allison) of Las Vegas, John (Chelley) Willoughby of Pierre, Tess Piper of Ogden, Utah, and Joni Willoughby of Midland; one great-grandson, Cale Allison of Las Vegas; six step-grandchildren, eight stepgreat grandchildren and two stepgreat-great-grandchildren; a niece, Valerie (Al) Garr, other numerous nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.

 

Wallace was preceded in death by both sets of grandparents, his parents, Jeff and Anna (1983), son Monte (1955), stepfather, Robert L. Evans (1973), niece, Connie (1959) and his special aunt, Hattie McNeill (2008.)

 

Wallace requested his body be donated to science and will eventually be cremated with inurnment at a later date. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established.

 

A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Monday, January 16, 2017, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Midland with Pastor Lauren Ley and Pastor Tel Saucerman officiating.

 

Arrangements are with the Rush Funeral Home of Philip.

 

His online guest book is available at www.rushfuneralhome. com