Willard Bryan, 76 of Avon

Willard died Saturday, January 29, 2011 at the Good Samaritan Society in Corsica.

Funeral Mass will be held 10:30 am Thursday, February 3, 2011 at St. Leo Catholic Church in Tyndall, with burial at the Scotty Phillips Cemetery in Ft. Pierre at 4 pm Thursday. There will be a lunch at the Holiday Inn in Ft. Pierre following the burial.
Visitation will be at the church Wednesday from 5 pm to 7:30 pm, followed by a 7:30 pm wake service. Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Home of Avon is in charge of the arrangements.

Willard Merle Bryan was born December 11, 1934 at home in Mellette County to Bud and Minnie (Brunson) Bryan. He was the fifth of 11 children.

He loved sports and was very active in them while attending school at White River.  He became active in high school rodeo in 1950. He won the National High School saddle bronc trophy in 1952. He competed in South Dakota rodeos with the SDRA and was a member of the PRCA and competed throughout the Midwest for several years. He participated in and tried every rodeo event.  He placed in most of the events he participated in, winning 3 saddles, numerous riggins and belt buckles. He then worked the rodeos as a judge, pick-up man, and flag man.

In 1953 he married his lifelong friend, companion, and love of his life, Cleota Stromer on November 7 at the White River Catholic Church and to this union five children were born: Deborah Carroll of Murdo, SD, Julie Mehrer of Avon, SD, Justin (Pam) Bryan of Oacoma, SD, Jason Bryan of Avon, SD, and Tessa (Cory) Myers of Avon SD. He was also blessed with fifteen grandchildren and eight great-grandchildren with two more on the way.

Willard worked on several different ranches in central SD. He started working for West Central Electric as a lineman in 1978 and later retired in 1996. Then Willard and Cleota purchased and operated the North Vue Motel in Avon, SD until they sold it in 2006. Not being able to sit still and "Retire," he decided he would start driving semi truck. He drove for local companies in the area until he decided to go to Wyoming and drive truck in the oil fields. He drove truck until the time of his illness.

Willard was an avid BASS fisherman and was a member of the SD BASS Federation, Lifetime member of National B.A.S.S and North American Fishing, while also being a member of Capitol City, Mid West, and Bon Homme BASS Clubs. He loved tournament fishing and qualified for several Regional Championships all over the country. In 2002, after spending countless hours searching for the one, he won the Worlds BIG BASS trophy for catching the largest largemouth bass in the country.  He thoroughly enjoyed fishing and would be on the water for hours. Weekends in the spring and summer were usually focused on fishing tournaments while the anglers stuck around to discuss the days catch, drink coffee, and eat a good home cooked meal.

His Greatest love was for his children and grandchildren. He spent many hours teaching them how to fish, to flip correctly for youth casting contests, to hunt, and all about rodeo, while sharing lessons on life. He always had time for any type of game, mostly cards, and it seemed like he won most of the time. He never turned anyone away and lent a helping hand to anyone that needed it. He would never turn down an opportunity to watch one of his many favorite sports teams.

On February 2, 2010, Willard suffered a massive vascular stroke at his home in Avon, SD. After nearly a year long battle with vascular dementia, Willard passed away, with family by his side, at Pleasant View Good Samaritan Center in Corsica, SD.

He is survived by his wife Cleota of Avon, his children: Debbie; Julie; Justin (Pam); Jason; and Tessa (Cory); fifteen grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; four brothers: Charles (JoAnn) of Avon, SD; Larry (Diane) of Tyndall, SD; Tony (Barb) of Edgemont, SD; and Wayne of Bakersfield, CA; three sisters: Patty Harris of Belle Fourche, SD; Carolyn (Dick) McKee of White River, SD; Sharon Litellier of Millers Creek, NC; one brother-in-law, John Herman of Pringle, SD; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one bother, Donnie, two sisters: Lola Herman and Madelon White; and one grandson, Phillip Dobbin.