Ronald D. Carver, of Volga died on Wednesday, September 12, 2018, of inoperable cancer at Ava's House in Sioux Falls, South Dakota under hospice care.  He was 82 years, 11 months, and 17 days old-just 13 days shy of his 83rd birthday.  A celebration of Ronald's life will be held on Saturday, September 15, 2018, beginning at 4:00 p.m. at Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings, South Dakota.  Interment is scheduled to be held at a later date at Trinity Cemetery in Volga.  Eidsness Funeral Home is assisting Ron's family with arrangements.

Ronald Duane Carver was born on September 25, 1935, in Bemidji, Minnesota, the son of George and Laura (Thorstad) Carver.  He received his education in the following order: Kindergarten in Lennox, South Dakota; grades 1 & 2 in Brandt, South Dakota; grade 3 in Canby, Minnesota; and grades 4-12 in Brookings, South Dakota.

Ron graduated in 1953 from Brookings High School.  After graduation, he enlisted in the United States Air Force and was released from active reserve as S/Sgt.  Ron spent four years in several different countries, including Japan, Hong Kong, and the Philippines to name a few.  He also served four years of active reserve United States Air Force while at South Dakota State University.  Upon discharge, Ron returned to Sioux Falls, South Dakota, where he found that there were no jobs available so he enrolled at SDSU in Brookings.

He was united in marriage to Marcia Vander Wal on February 10, 1961, at the home of her parents, in rural Volga.  In May 1961, Ron graduated with a Baccalaureate in Science, specializing in secondary education and earned many additional credits from other universities during his career.

Ron's first teaching job was at Sabula High School, in Sabula, Iowa, where he taught science and industrial education in the 1962/1963 school year.  Ron and his family then moved to southeastern Wisconsin, where Ron taught high school industrial arts education for 23 years, from 1963 until 1986.  His next assignment took him to the Wisconsin Department of Corrections, where he taught High School Equivalency Diploma classes.

After retirement in 1993, Ron was employed as a carpenter and later built a new home near Volga, South Dakota.  His wife Marcia soon joined him after her retirement in early 2003 with 33 years of service to the State of Wisconsin.

Survivors include his wife of 57 years, Marcia (Vander Wal) Carver; his children: twins Gregory (Victoria) Carver, of Richfield, Wisconsin,  Nancy (Mark) Colburn, of Sammamish, Washington, and Timothy (Kari) Carver, of Minnetrista, Minnesota; eight grandchildren: Ashley Carver, Jacob Carver and Kimberly Carver, Sydney Colburn, and Zachary Colburn, Tyler Carver, Kaylie Carver, and Emma Carver; two brothers: Gail (Roberta) of Watkinsville, Georgia, and Donovan Wayland of Sequim, Washington; three sisters-in-law: Evelyn Carver, of Lacey, Washington, Helen Hoadley, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, and Patricia Carver, of Redding, California; and numerous nieces and nephews.

Ron was preceded in death by three sisters and their husbands: Doris (Lawrence) Wiebel, (George) Klinghagen, Eleanor (Ohmer) Peterson, and Elaine (Thomas) Poulson; and brothers: Lynn Carver, George Carver, and Lyle (Jackie) Carver; three sisters-in-law: Geneva Carver, Sandy Carver, and Connie Carver; and several nieces and nephews.

Although a gift of flowers is appreciated, Ron's family would encourage friends and family to instead make donations in Ron's name to Ava's House in Sioux Falls, in gratitude for the exceptional care they provided for Ron and his family during this difficult time.

Ava's House

1320 West 17th Street

Sioux Falls, SD  57104