Elmer Kludt, age 85, of Woonsocket, SD, and formerly of Alpena, died Saturday, June 16, 2007, at the Royal C. Johnson Veterans Medical Center at Sioux Falls. His funeral service will be at 10:00 AM Thursday, June 21, at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church with Rev. Michael Bagnall officiating. Burial will be at Restlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery with Military Rites by the Huron Veterans Council. Friends may call on Wednesday from 3:30 to 9:00 PM at the Welter Funeral Home or prior to the service at the church Thursday morning. There will be a devotional service at 7:00 PM Wednesday evening at the funeral home. Elmer Kludt was born on Monday, May 8, 1922, to Robert and Elsie (Zeeck) Kludt on the family farm near Yale, South Dakota. He attended grade school in Carthage and Forestburg. After he received his education he worked for area farmers. In 1942 he entered the U.S. Army Air Force and served his country overseas in the Pacific Theatre during World War II. On July 28, 1943, he married Margaret Rieck in Clearwater, Florida. After his honorable discharge from the service in November 1945 the couple made their home in the Iroquois, Yale and De Smet areas where they farmed. In the spring of 1957 they moved to the Alpena area where they raised their eight children. In 1981 the couple moved off their rural Alpena farm into Alpena. Margaret passed away on June 17, 1990. After her death he continued to live in Alpena. On July 8, 1993 he married Bertha (Diede) Bittner in Wessington Springs, South Dakota. They continued to live in Alpena until March 2004 when they moved to their current residence in Woonsocket. Elmer was a member of Mt. Olive Lutheran Church in Woonsocket and served on their various boards. He was a member of the American Legion Post for many years. He loved to hunt and fish. In his retirement he took up woodworking as a hobby. He also took great pride in his large garden and the maintenance of his lawn. He is survived by his wife, Bertha of Woonsocket; four sons, Tim (Cheryle) Kludt of Lakeville, MN, Terry Kludt of Alpena, SD, Tony (Barbara) Kludt of Miller, SD and Joel (Lory) Kludt of Sioux Falls, SD; four daughters, Barbara (John) Stupero of Rush City, MN, Peggy (David) Ninke of Webster, SD, Betty (Glen) Macauley of Carpenter, SD, and Ellen (Craig Newstrom) Kludt of St. Francis, MN; two brothers, Robert (Queenda) Kludt of Elk Grove, CA, and Max Doc (Lila) Kludt of Huron, SD; three sisters, Hazel Johnson of Hinckley, MN, Laura Jones of Huron, SD, and Gladys (Siegfred) Noack of Artesian, SD; eighteen grandchildren and eighteen great grandchildren. Also close to Elmer were his 3 step-children, Gene (Tina) Bittner of Vancouver, WA, Darrell (Barb) Bittner of Loveland, CO, and Mary (Omer) Pearson of Huron; 8 step-grandchildren and 7 step-great grandchildren; 2 sisters-in-law, Doris Kludt of Huron, and Marilyn Kludt of Prineville, OR. He was preceded in death by his parents; his first wife; two brothers, Calvin and Marvin; and 1 brother-in-law, Howard Jones.