James (Jim) Teller

James (Jim) Teller, 74, passed away on January 1, 2023.

Funeral services will take place at The Point to Serve Church, 506 N Kiwanis Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57104, on Tuesday, January 17, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. with burial to follow at the South Dakota State Veteran's Cemetery and a luncheon at the church.

James ‘Jim’ was born on August 4, 1948 to Francis and Georgia (Christensen) Teller in Brookings, SD. He was raised on the family farm outside of Arlington, SD and graduated from Arlington High School in 1966. Jim attended Northern State College before volunteering for the Vietnam War Draft. He served two years (1967-1969) in the US Army with one Infantry tour of duty in Vietnam before being honorably discharged with a rank of Sergeant. When Jim returned from Vietnam, he enrolled at Dakota State University and completed a Bachelor’s degree in Education. He later received his Master’s degree from South Dakota State University. Jim started his career in Education with a teaching job in the Hamlin School District before moving on to teaching and basketball coaching positions at Salem and Platte, SD. He later became an Elementary Principal at Lake Preston, SD and eventually served as the Principal at the South Dakota State Penitentiary. After his career in Education, Jim worked in the transportation industry until his retirement.

Jim was proud of his military service and was an American Legion member for over 50 consecutive years at post 42 in Arlington. In Vietnam Jim was assigned to an Infantry Company in the Americal Division and while there was promoted to Squad Leader and then Sergeant. He was also awarded a Bronze Star for Valor. Jim was co-founder and active member of Warrior’s Hope and an active member of the Combat Veteran Group at the Vet Center. He enjoyed attending reunions with his friends from the Alpha Company Americal Division. He was also an active member of Dakota Benchrest Shooters and most recently served as president of their board. Jim was an avid gun collector and enjoyed reloading bullets and shooting at the range with friends and in competitions. Jim enjoyed writing and in 2016 his essay won the South Dakota Festival of Books inaugural Veterans Writing contest. Jim was a Member of The Point is to Serve Church and he and his wife Jeannie enjoyed the weekly potlucks they had with a close group of friends from Church.

Grateful for having shared in his life are his family and friends. Jim is survived by his wife of 24 years Jeannie; three children, Dawn (Kenny) Jensen of Glenwood, IA; Matt (Mali) Teller of Sioux Falls, SD; and Karen Wollman of Sioux Falls, SD. Jim is also survived by his brother Tom Teller and his wife Delene of Faribault, MN; sister-in-law Judy Wagner of Sioux Falls, SD. Nieces and Nephew: Debbie Calmus, Craig Anderson, Shelly Anderson, Dana Teller, and Rita Hrdlicka. He was proceeded in death by his parents and his sister Donna Soper and her husband, Ed Soper.

Memorial gifts may be directed to Warrior’s Hope of the Sioux Empire at 506 N Kiwanis Ave, Sioux Falls, SD 57104 or South Dakota Veterans Cemetery at 25965 477th Avenue, Sioux Falls, SD 57104.