Willis Blom

Willis Lloyd Blom, age 90, Selby,S .D., formerly of Philip, died Saturday, August 29, 2015, at the Good Samaritan Center in Selby.

Willis Lloyd Blom was born June 3, 1925, in Mitchell, the son of Jake and Letha (Thomas) Blom. He grew up on a ranch in the Stamford area and received his education in the Belvidere, graduating from Belvidere High School in 1943. 

After high school, he moved out to Washington state for a short time before returning to Belvidere to work on the railroad.

He was united in marriage to Charlotte Gerdon on June 3, 1948, in Murdo. They made their home in Kadoka, where Willis worked for the highway department. In 1956, they moved to Philip where Willis worked for Dorothy Brothers for nearly 24 years, and then for Scotchman Industries for seven and a half years, retiring in 1987. After his retirement, he drove the Haakon County Prairie Transportation until retiring in 2003.

In 2007, Willis and Charlotte moved to Mobridge to be closer to their family. Due to health reasons, he entered the Good Samaritan Center in Selby in July 2013, where he has since resided.

Willis enjoyed horseshoes, country music and loved to dance. Cribbage was a game that Willis played often, and taught many of his family members to play. As a young man, he played baseball for many years for Belvidere, and was an avid hunter and fisherman. He was a member of the United Church of Philip.

Survivors include his wife, Charlotte Blom, Selby; one son, Lloyd Blom (Diane), Mobridge; two daughters, Colleen Taylor (Russ), Fairfax, and Myrna Kary (Jim), Mobridge; nine grandchildren, Misty Davis, Melanie Mertz, Brady Blom, Monica Jons, Donnie Taylor, Charles Taylor, Molly Sybesma, Ben Kary and Matt Kary; 23 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; one sister, Lorraine Mundt, Lago Vista, Texas; one sister-in-law, Virginia Blom, Yankton; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Willis was preceded in death by his parents; a grandson, Jeremiah Kary; a son-in-law, Donald Taylor; two brothers, Pete and Dean Blom; and a sister, Ilene Kimball.

Services were held Wednesday, September 2, at the United Church in Philip, with Pastor Kathy Chesney officiating.

Graveside services were held Wednesday at the Belvidere Cemetery.

Arrangements are with the Rush Funeral Home of Philip.

His online guestbook is available at www.rushfuneralhome. com