Ralland Bartelt

Dates

Obituary

Ralland Bartelt, 72, of Stickney, SD, was unexpectedly called home to his Lord and Savior Tuesday, July 23, 2024, at the Sanford Heart Hospital in Sioux Falls. Funeral services will be at 10:30 AM Monday, July 29, at St. Paul Lutheran Church in Stickney. Burial will be at Dudley Cemetery in rural Stickney. Visitation will be Sunday, July 28, from 5-7:00 PM at the church with a 7:00 PM prayer service. Arrangements by Bittner Funeral Chapel.

Ralland Gene Bartelt was born April 18, 1952, to Rudy and Ruby (Herbst) Bartelt in Parkston, SD. He was baptized on May 11th, 1952 at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Dimock, SD.

Ralland lived in the Hillside Area until moving to a farm north of Stickney, SD in 1955. He was a student at Hughes School for 1st through 3rd grade, continued his education from 4th to 12th grade at Stickney Public School, and graduated in 1970. He attended Northern State College and graduated in 1974 with a degree in Music.

He married Diane DeBoer on July 13, 1972, and the couple recently celebrated their 52nd anniversary. Ralland and Diane welcomed three children to this union: Chris (1974), Jess (1978), and Jackie (1980).

Ralland started his career as a music teacher in Corsica, then moved to Stickney, while also helping his father with the family farm. He began a career with the postal service in 1985 as a clerk at the Mitchell Post Office, became Postmaster in Letcher, SD, and on May 1, 1993 was sworn in as Postmaster for the Stickney Post Office.  

In 2000, Ralland and Diane moved into Stickney and he taught himself the craft of woodworking. He spent many hours in his shop crafting one-of-a-kind pieces for friends and family. He had an exceptional talent for transforming wood or discarded scraps into something truly beautiful. Each piece was a labor of love built with meticulous planning and an eye for detail. He was a tremendous musician and enjoyed selecting and performing praise songs for contemporary church services. He served as Diane's personal travel agent, finding joy in the process of researching and planning exceptional experiences. One of the most memorable included a trip to Israel. 

His greatest treasures were his children, grandchildren, and his lifelong partner and best friend, Diane.

Ralland is survived by his wife of 52 years, Diane of Stickney; three children: Chris Bartelt (special friend Jackie Hertel and son Trivett) of Stickney, Jess Bartelt of Fargo, ND, and Jackie Caffee of Gillette, WY; eight grandchildren: Trever (Adaya), Josie, and Tanner Bartelt, Jack, Jemma, and Lane Bartelt, and Kennedy and Jude Caffee; and sister, Virginia Matlock (special friend Bill Moos).  

He was preceded in death by his parents, Rudy and Ruby Bartelt.

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