James Rumbolz

There are not many heroes left in this world. After the passing of Jim Rumbolz on Tuesday, June 16th, there is one less. His children, grandchildren, great-grandchildren, and literally hundreds of students, colleagues, and friends viewed him as a hero. One good friend referred to him as “one of the last great gentlemen.” 

James (Jim) M. Rumbolz was born on December 22nd, 1931 in Ethan, SD to Effie and Ernest Rumbolz, Sr., the third of four children. 

Jim spent his early life working on the family farm. It was there that he learned the value of hard work. He played football for Southern State Teachers’ College in Springfield, SD and then for Augustana College in Sioux Falls, SD.

In 1952 Jim joined the South Dakota Highway Patrol. In those early years, Jim spent a fair amount of time in Pierre, South Dakota where he frequented a local dry cleaners to have his uniforms cleaned and pressed. It was there that he took notice of a beautiful young woman who worked the front of the business dealing with clients. Her name was Nancy Ellis and she was the daughter of the business’ owner. He was smitten and so was she. She and her sister called him "shoulders” based on his formidable physique. Since football was his love, he thought it would be appropriate to ask Nancy to attend a local football game with him. They fell in love and were married in February, 1953. 

Jim was stationed in Phillip, SD where their first daughter, Terryl was born. A short time later, they moved to Belle Fourche, SD where three more children joined the family:  Cheryl, Jay, and Judy.

Jim served with distinction with the patrol for twenty-one years. As the only trooper in Butte County, one of the largest counties in the state, he was a very busy man. There were no shifts or schedules and Nancy often served as his dispatcher as he was called to investigate car crashes, domestic issues, track down criminals, and keep the roads safe. 

During these early years Jim lost his good friend and colleague “Brownie” Russell to a car accident following a manhunt that kept them and another trooper up through the night. Jim was the first on the scene of the crash and wrote later that his years of investigating fatal accidents did not help him when confronted with his best friend’s death. 

In 1965, Jim and the family were relocated to Sioux Falls, SD. In 1968 he returned to Augustana to complete his degree. He graduated in 1969 with a B.A. in Education/Sociology. 

Jim’s educational pursuits continued at the University of South Dakota where, in 1972, he earned his Master’s degree in Sociology/History. 

He retired from the patrol and went to work as the Associate Director of Criminal Justice Studies and Director of the Off-Campus Programs for the University of South Dakota. His vast background in law enforcement made him a natural for the position and his examples and stories added a level of richness to his classes. 

There was a third career for Jim. In 1981-82 he traveled to Michigan State University in East Lansing to earn his doctorate’s degree in Administration and Higher Education/Criminal Justice. Upon earning his Ph.D. in 1983, he took on the job as Hospital Administrator of the Custer State Hospital. He retired from that position in 1993.

Though retired, Jim continued to teach for the University in their off-campus program in Rapid City. He served as a consultant to numerous State and National groups in the area of Criminal Justice. He also served on several boards. 

During his years on the patrol, Jim engaged in competitive pistol shooting and earned many local, regional, and national pistol shooting championships.

He was also an accomplished writer who co-authored the book “Law Enforcement:  The South Dakota Experience” in 1982. 

The most important and revealing “book” he wrote was his autobiography which chronicles mostly his 21 years in law enforcement. He never tired of encouraging others, including his children, to write their stories. He said everybody had a story, a life that is interesting and worth recording for posterity.

First and foremost, Jim was a devoted husband who cared for his wife until her death in June 2013. He loved his children and grandchildren and was generous with them in life and in death. He will be remembered by everyone who knew him as a compassionate advisor, a wise mentor, a thoughtful son, brother, husband, father, and grandfather. 

Proud and grateful for having shared his life and death are his four children, Terryl Cadwell of Sioux Falls and her children Chad (Chrissy) and Chelsea (Brady), Cheryl Pedersen (Steve) of Eagan, MN and their children Aaron (Stephanie), Rachel (Tony), and Mara (Adam), Jay Rumbolz (Angie), of Yakima, WA and his children Alex (Cassie) and Hannah (Joel), and Judy Rumbolz of Sioux Falls and her children Megan (Tim) and Austin. He also had many friends who loved him and will remember him as a loyal friend and kind supporter. 

Jim was preceded in death by his beloved wife Nancy, his parents, Ernest and Effie Rumbolz, two brothers, Ernest Rumbolz, Jr. and Robert Rumbolz as well as a sister Donalee Rumbolz. 

A Celebration of Life will be held at the end of July. On Friday, July 24th a car procession will leave from Heritage Funeral Home to Woodlawn Cemetery at 2:00 pm led by a SD Highway Patrol Honor Guard assisted by the SF Police Department. A short committal service will be held graveside. 

Saturday, July 25th there will be a gathering of friends from 2:00- 5:00 p.m. at Turks & Caicos Cabana Grille in Sioux Falls. A time of sharing memories and honoring Jim will begin at 3:00 p.m.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made to the SD Highway Patrol Association.