Glenn Poland

SARGENT - Glenn Wyman Poland, 89, of Sargent died Thursday, Jan. 28, 2010, at home.

Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday at Rhoad Funeral Home in Sargent. The Rev. Cliff Reynolds will officiate. Burial will be in the Mount Hope Cemetery at Sargent.

Visitation will be from 4 to 7 p.m. Monday at the funeral home.

Mr. Poland was born Dec. 2, 1920, at the family farm near Sargent to George and Margaret (Vanderveen) Poland.

He married Laurel Hust Aug. 15, 1948, at Imperial.

Survivors of the immediate family include his wife; his children, Doug of Sargent, Kathy Fiorelli and her husband, Randy, of Anselmo, and Shirley Williams and her husband, David, of Lincoln; and a sister, Evelyn Dawson of Visalia, Calif.

Also surviving are eight grandchildren, Jeremy Fiorelli of Anselmo, Marci Fiorelli of Kearney, Kim Fiorelli Murray of San Antonio, Texas, Garet Poland of Kenesaw, KeShara Poland Rogers of Colorado Springs, Colo., Isaac Poland of Lincoln, Owen Williams of Lincoln, and Emma Williams of Lincoln; six great-grandchildren, Tara, Trinity and Tyler Murray, Dylan and Dominic Rogers, and Kacey Poland; and one stepgreat-grandchild, Cody Shriver.

Glenn was the third of five children in his family who walked, or who later took a horse and cart, to attend a country school for their early education. He graduated from Sargent High School, along with his sister, Evelyn, in 1940, after living in town and working at the local J.C. Penney store during the week, then returning to the farm to work on weekends.

He reported for the service several times during World War II, but because his two older brothers were already in the service, the draft board decided it was better for him to keep working on the farm to keep it in production during the war years.

Glenn met his wife, Laurel Hust, at a church hay rack ride after she had moved to Sargent to teach school. They began their married life living in a sod house between Sargent and Taylor. During the winter of 1948 and '49, Glenn had to ride a horse to Taylor to get necessities because the roads were impassable for months.

They later moved to a nearby farm they purchased, where Glenn continued to actively farm and raise cattle until the last year of his life. He loved farming and ranching. He and Laurel celebrated their 61st wedding anniversary this past August. Their marriage was blessed with three children, Doug, Kathy and Shirley.

Glenn was a pilot who had a runway, airplane and hangar on his farm. He enjoyed flying and was a member of Flying Farmers of America. The family frequently flew, instead of driving, to wherever they might be going. He also used the plane to check cattle in the winter and to give rides to anyone who was interested.

Glenn was active in the community and was elected to several boards during his lifetime. He also served on several non-elective boards. He served on the Custer Public Power Board of Directors for 27 years, the Sargent school board for 12 years, the Sargent Airport Authority Board, the Sargent Township Board, the board of directors of the Sargent Farmers Co-op and the Custer County Extension Board.

He was active in the Lions Club, was a Boy Scout leader for many years, and he was a frequent volunteer for the Sargent United Methodist Church.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brothers, Raymond and Kenneth; and his sister, Donita Van Horn.

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