Garnard Ashley, Pukwana

Garnard Moreland Ashley, 98, Pukwana, died Thursday, Feb. 19, 2009, at Firesteel Healthcare Center, Mitchell.

Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. today at the Protestant Parish Church, Kimball. Burial, with Masonic rites by Chamberlain Lodge No. 56, will follow at the Kimball City Cemetery.

The Shearer-Mount Funeral Chapel, Kimball, is assisting with the arrangements.

He was born July 17, 1910, on the family homestead in Brule County, to Thomas and Rachel (Moreland) Ashley.

He attended country school through the eighth grade and went on to graduate from Kimball High School in 1927.

On Sept. 24, 1940, he married Esther (Brearley) Bullis in Luverne, Minn.

They farmed and ranched on the family Century Farm.

His wife died on Jan. 6, 1985.

On Nov. 19, 1988, he married Zola (Hawk) Stulken, and they remained on the farm.

He was one of the original directors and organizers of the South Dakota Tractor Museum in Kimball. For more than 60 years, he was a member of the Masonic Lodge in Chamberlain; he belonged to the Order of the Eastern Star Chamberlain Chapter No. 66 for more than 50 years; was a member of the South Dakota Stock Growers Association; and was a county commissioner during the building of the Brule County Courthouse. He was also a lifelong member of the Kimball Methodist Church.

He is survived by his wife; two sons: Todd and wife Shirley; and Tucker and wife Crystal, all of Kimball; a step-son, Bruce Stulken and wife Gay, Miller; eight grandchildren; two step-grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; two brothers-in-law: Wayne Suiter, Spearfish; and John Wingert, Kimball; along with many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his first wife; a step-son, Rodey Bullis; a daughter-in-law, Sandy Bullis; his parents; two sisters: Reva Nankivel and Clarice Suiter; and a brother-in-law; R.C. Nankivel.

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