Ronold O. Scott
Ronold O. Scott, 76 years, 340 days, of Draper died Thursday, August 27 at his home, cared for by his wife and sister-in-law. Ronold and Velma were married 54 years to the day.
Ronold was born September 21, 1938 in Aurora County, S.D., to Gaylord W. and Iola (Mickelson) Scott. He grew up in the Storla area, attending grade school at Elm Grove and Peterson School. Ronold was baptized and confirmed in the Storla Lutheran Church. In 1957 he graduated from Letcher High School, having attended his freshman year at Canton Academy. He was active in 4-H, winning a trip to Chicago. He was awarded the highest FFA honor, that of American Farmer degree, receiving this honor at the national convention in Kansas City. He had served as president and secretary of his chapter, was the S.D. state sentinel, won the FFA foundation award in soil and water conservation in both state and region and the state award in farm mechanics.
Ronold farmed with his father before marrying Velma Blume of Delmont on August 27, 1961. They moved to Brookings to attend SDSU and then transferred to SulRoss College in Alpine, Texas. Their children were born while they lived on the farm at Storla. Ronnie and Velma have lived throughout South Dakota, making their retirement home in Draper.
Black and white paint horses, leather scrapbook and wood working, gardening, and horse racing were his passions. He made leather chaps for S.D. rodeo queens that were a work of art and a prize winning leather cover for his niece. Over the years Ronold has supported S.D. rodeo queen contestants and kept them “grounded” with his straight forward comments while Velma sewed for them. You could usually find Ronold in his work shop creating cupboard, chests, bookcases, wood figurines or a windmill. His greenhouse got bigger and better every year, always trying to grow bigger and better vegetables and flowers. A favorite pastime of Ronold’s was following horse races around the country via the internet.
Ronold is survived by his wife Velma, daughter Melanie (Tom) of Pierre, his son Stewart (Renae) of Ames, Iowa, and grandchildren; Kayla, Lacy, Sonya, Randy, Augusta, Brandt, Clara and Dena, and three great grandchildren. He is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews, sister Zona (Dwayne) of Mud Butte and brother-in-law Jerry McLeish of Lolo, Mont., sister-in-law Clara Henthorne of Fairview, Ore.
Ronold was preceded in death by his parents, a grandson, a sister and a nephew.
