Renold "Ren" Christman, 92, of Tabor, SD, passed away at home on Thursday, September 30, 2021, with his family by his side.  His services will be held on Saturday, October 9, 2021, at the Redfield Wesleyan Church in Redfield, SD, with Pastor Adrian Timmons officiating.  Visitation will be from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. with family present to accept condolences.  Friends and family are invited for a come and go lunch between 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m.  There will be a time of sharing service at 1:00 p.m. followed by his funeral service at approximately 1:30 p.m. with his grandchildren as his pallbearers.  A procession to the cemetery will leave at 2:30 p.m., and Renold will be laid to rest at 3:30 p.m. at the St. Lawrence Cemetery in St. Lawrence, SD.

Renold's family has requested that masks be worn, please.   If desired, memorials may be directed to Redfield Wesleyan Church.  Condolences may be sent to his wife at 236 North Janda, Tabor, SD, 57063.

The funeral service will be live-streamed to the funeral home's website.  Arrangements have been entrusted to Hyke Funeral Home in Redfield.  (www.hykefuneralhome.com)

Renold Christman was born on January 3, 1929, in Eli, Nebraska.  He was born to Fredrick and Martha (Leder) Christman and married Alaca Williams on August 21, 1949, in the St. Lawrence Community Church.

After their marriage, they owned a gas station/garage where Ren did mechanical work. He then began working at the South Dakota Development Center where he worked for 36 years. He began in the boiler room and worked his way to Physical Plant Director. When Ren retired, he had 45 people working under him.

Although Ren only completed his formal education to 7th grade, he passed his GED at the age of 50. He had his state electrical license, sewer and plumbing license. He taught himself to weld, repair and rewind electrical motors, repair grandfather clocks, and repair watches. He could accomplish almost anything he put his mind and hands to. In 1959, he purchased a lot at Cottonwood Lake. He built their lake home by tearing down an old one room schoolhouse. After his retirement, Ren and Alaca lived at their lake home during the summer and spent 30 winters in Edinburg, Texas.

He enjoyed the outdoors and was an avid hunter and fisherman who possessed many Proud Angler Trophy Patches.

Ren and Alaca loved travel, owned several RVs and travel homes, and visited all the states in the continental United States along with many Canadian provinces and Mexico. He was a self-taught guitarist and loved to play jam sessions with family.  He had a wonderful sense of humor and loved to share funny stories with others. He was an avid carver who introduced that hobby to many of his friends and family. He started a carving club at their winter home in Texas.

He was a long-time member of Redfield Wesleyan Church and served on the board of trustees at the church and was a member of the church choir. He wants to be remembered for trusting God and for wanting those he loved to put God first.

Ren is survived by his wife of 72 years Alaca; son Gerald (Linda) Christman of Bloomington, IL; daughter Barb Koupal of Tabor, SD; son Melvin (Cinda) Christman of Parkston, SD; and daughter Julia (Jerry) Fischer of Mitchell, SD.  He is also survived by 12 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

He is preceded in death by his parents; 10 brothers and sisters; son-in-law Ron Koupal; one grandchild; and one great-grandson.

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Thanks to the participants in Renold's service:

Clergy: Pastor Adrian Timmons

Organist: Cinda Christman

Soloist: Melvin Christman

Pallbearers: Renold's Grandchildren

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