Elton Bruce MacNeill, 91, of Tulare, SD passed away November 14, 2017 at the Redfield Care and Rehab Center in Redfield. Funeral Services will be at the Tulare United Church in Tulare, SD on Monday, November 20, 2017 at 10:30 a.m. with Pastor Lorah Houser Jankord officiating. Burial will follow in the St. John's Cemetery, rural Tulare.

Visitation will be Sunday, November 19, 2017 from 3 p.m. – 5 p.m. at Thelen-Hyke Funeral Home in Redfield with the family present at 5 p.m. to accept condolences. Following the visitation will be a prayer service with Masonic Rites at 5 p.m.

Bruce was born January 15, 1926, on the family farm southwest of Tulare, SD to Elton and Ella (Schultz) MacNeill. He attended grade school at a nearby country school and graduated from Tulare High School in 1944.

On June 8, 1945, he married Alice Iona Binger at his parent's farm. To this union, five children were born.

Bruce spent one year in the United States Army stationed at Fort Benning, Georgia. After being discharged from the army, Bruce returned to the family farm to farm with his Dad. Along with farming, Bruce did custom haystack moving, having built his own haystack movers.

Bruce was a Boy Scout leader for several years. He was a member of the Tulare United Church in Tulare, formerly St. John's UCC in rural Tulare, where he sang in the church choir and a quartet. He was a Sunday School teacher and belonged to the Men's Brotherhood. Bruce was also a member of the Tulare Lions Club, receiving the Melvin Jones Fellowship Award in 2002-2003. He bowled on a league in Redfield for many years and was a member of the Tulare American Legion and Masonic Lodge. Bruce loved to hunt, fish, and watch the Minnesota Twins baseball games.

Bruce loved life and everybody loved Bruce. He had a heart of gold and would help anyone out. He loved his wife and his family. Bruce loved spending time at the lake boating with family and friends and was an avid water skier who taught many people how to ski, as well. He was a true Christian man who doted on his family and loved playing with his grandchildren.

Bruce is survived  by his wife, Alice, of 72 years; his 5 children, Lynn (Kay) MacNeill of Sebring, FL, Jeannette (Lyle) Kleinsasser of Iroquois, SD, Deanne (Lyle) Ness of Huron, SD, Brian (Kristine) MacNeill of Bend, OR, and Colleen (Dale) Kightlinger of Onamia, MN; 2 sisters, Carolyn (Deane) Antoine, of Madelia, MN, and Mikki (Kurt) Permann of Redfield, SD; 14 grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren; 12 great-great grandchildren; plus a host of nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, a brother, Dr. Charles MacNeill and his wife, Patricia, of Spokane, WA, and his great-grandson, Aiden Ness.