Roy Lee Bultman, 96, of Miller/Wessington, SD, and formerly of Elkhart, Kans., passed away peacefully Wednesday, February 22, at the Evangelical Lutheran Good Samaritan Society, Miller.
Roy was born November 21, 1926, to Henry and Hilda (Scholle) Bultman in Carroll County, Carrollton, Mo.
He attended the Lutheran Parochial School until they moved to Monett, Mo., in 1940, where he attended and completed his junior year of high school. During this time, Roy and his brothers joined their parents’ custom wheat harvest operation.
In the fall of 1944, Roy moved to Elkhart, where he completed his high school education and subsequently graduated in 1945.
Roy served his country in the Armed Forces from 1950-1952 and while stationed at Fort Riley, Kans., he met his precious wife, Dorothy Malone. They were married April 9, 1953, at Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church in Junction City, Kans..
He attended college in Stillwater, Okla., and later transferred to Wichita State University where he worked at the local Boeing plant in the evenings to support his family.
Born to this union were a daughter, Lana, and two sons: Tony and Mark. After attending college and being honorably discharged from military service, Roy returned to Elkhart to resume his work with his dad and brothers in the family business.
Because of his love for the land, Roy always aspired to be a farmer. So after much reflection, in 1960, Roy and Dorothy dramatically altered the course of their lives by purchasing a farm located north of Wessington, SD. Roy recalled how he had been told some of the best farmland in the United States was located in Hand County, SD.
His farming operation included the purchase of a herd of Charolais cattle where he annually fed out steers for the beef market. At the cutting edge of genetics at that time, Roy and his son, Mark, artificially bred his herd of Charolais cows to enhance the quality of the herd. Roy’s herd of Charolais cattle became the fulfillment of a life-long dream. After a generation of farming, the Bultman family farm was sold in 2006. Following the sale, Roy purchased another small farm near Texhoma, Okla.
Roy had a quote, “If you love to work, you will enjoy life.” It was his motto that others witnessed in the life of Roy Bultman. He was a great example of someone who understood the value of hard work. Roy was consistently positive and was never heard to complain. He confidently proclaimed GOD was always by his side. In his later years of life, he will be remembered as someone who enjoyed tinkering on his small farm in Texhoma and thoroughly enjoyed visiting with family and friends within the local area.
Roy was a faithful member of three churches: Concordia Lutheran Church in Wessington, SD, the Elkhart Christ Lutheran Church in Elkhart, and St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Texhoma. Roy felt honored to serve in various positions within the church and his faith never wavered throughout his lifetime. His legacy of love for the church and faith in the LORD was passed on to his children and grandchildren through weekly church attendance, participation in instructional catechism, and active involvement in local church activities.
Roy is survived by his daughter, Lana (Marcus) Moeller of Wolsey, SD; son, Mark (Michelle) Bultman of Ulysses, grandchildren: Matthew (Karen) Moeller, Aaron (Victoria) Moeller, and Leah (Chris) Fanning, Hattie (Adam) Wiginton and Mark Jr. Bultman; great-grandchildren: Danica (Dylan) Mickelson, Macee (Mark) Daigle, Eli Fanning, Hailey, Alana, and Ryann Moeller, and Lundon, Maison, Aniston, and Milani Wiginton; great-great grandchildren: Daelyn and Dawsyn Mickelson; brothers and sisters-in-law: Eldon and Melvin and Ruby Bultman of Elkhart; plus many nephews and nieces.
He was predeceased by his parents, Henry and Hilda Bultman; his wife, Dorothy on October 3, 2013; son, Tony on August 15, 2006; and great-grandson, Ethan on September 7, 1999; brothers and sisters-in-law, Norman and Betty Bultman and infant son, Gary, Virgil and Shirley Bultman; brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law, Bud and Delores Thom, Wayne and Loretta Unfred, Betty Ann Bultman, and nephew, Leo Thom.
Funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, March 4, at Garnand Funeral Home in Ulysses with Pastor Santiago Keinbaum officiating.
Interment will follow at the Elkhart Cemetery in Elkhart.
Memorial contributions may be given to the American Diabetes Association or the Alzheimer’s Association in care of Garnand Funeral Home, 405 W. Grant Ave., Ulysses, KS 67880.
