Rolland Bruce Potter, 77, of Seneca, passed away Friday, December 20, 2013 at his home.
 

Funeral service will be 10:30 a.m., Friday, December 27, 2013 at the United Church of Faulkton with Pastor Bill Hoffman officiating. Burial will follow at Oakland Cemetery, Seneca with military honors.  Visitation will be 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Thursday, December 26, 2013 with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service, all at the church.

 

Rolland Bruce was born September 24, 1936 to Rolland O. and Hazel (Miller) Potter in Seneca.  He graduated from high school at Faulkton in 1954. He helped his father that summer and went to the technical school in Fargo to study welding and mechanics that winter. During the next couple years he worked for Wilhelm Construction, the Berry Ranch north of the Potter Farm before volunteering in 1957 for the U.S. Army. The Army sent him to Korea for 13 months in the artillery just south of the DMZ.

 

When he came home in 1958, he helped his father on the farm, worked construction, and did dragline work. He also met his future wife, Janice Binger, whom he married on Valentine’s Day in 1960. He had taught himself drag line operation, dug water dugouts in cattle pastures in South Dakota and North Dakota, excavated bridge sites on the Cheyenne River and east of Yankton, and prepared an irrigation pumping site north of Pierre on the Missouri River. He was recognized statewide as one of the best dragline operators at the time.

 

He took over as the Standard Oil distributor at Seneca, and moved their house from the farm to Seneca to be closer to the Standard Oil operation and be available to neighbors needing fuel, furnace repair, and greases and oil for their equipment. He was also still farming and helping his father.

 

Bruce loved his cattle and being at home.  He also enjoyed the Seneca Coffee Crew, polka music, visiting with people and spending time with his family.  He was a member of the Seneca Methodist Church and the IOOF lodge.

 

He will be greatly missed by his children: Rolland (Carol) Potter of Seneca, Connie Woodring of Brookings, and Brian (Shiela) Potter of Faulkton, 12 grandchildren; one brother, Willard (Marion) Potter of Belle Fourche; one sister-in-law, Bev Stoner of Albuquerque, NM and many nieces and nephews.

 

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Janice in November 1993; one sister, Adella (Alford) Martschinske; and one brother-in-law, Tim (Shirley) Binger.

 

Luce Funeral Home of Faulkton has been entrusted with Bruce’s arrangements