Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Serving O'Brien & Clay Counties
Visitation and fellowship in memory of Rodney W. “Rod” Buren will be held Friday, Aug. 9, 2024, at Sanborn Funeral Home in Sanborn.
Honorary pallbearers are Averie Buren, Brylie Buren, Parker Buren and Miles Vincent. Private family burial will take place in Roseland Cemetery near Sanborn, with military graveside rites conducted by Melvin American Legion, Reed Guthrie Post #470. Sanborn Funeral Home is assisting with the arrangements.
Rodney Wayne “Rod” Buren, one of three children of Herman Adrian and Marie (Riemersma) Buren, was born May 13, 1945 in Sanborn. He received his education at the Sanborn Community School, graduating with the Class of 1964.
Rod began serving his country with the United States Army in January of 1968. Following his honorable discharge in 1970, he returned home and resumed farming. He later became a member of the Melvin American Legion Post #470 in Melvin.
Rod was united in marriage to Cheryl Plathe on Wednesday, Nov. 3, 1971 in Sanborn, where they would spend their entire married life. Their family grew to include two children: Elroy and Wendy.
Along with his passion for farming, Rod had also been employed with International Paper, Damman Company, Warren Anderson, and Vander Werff and Associates, Inc. in Sanborn. Farming and his work schedule usually kept him pretty busy but if there was some down time, he liked to garden with his wife. Having grown up on the farm, Rod had learned to have an appreciation for antique tractors and enjoyed participating in local tractor rides when they were offered. Bowling had been another of his favorite pastimes. Even if he wasn’t throwing strikes that night, it gave him a chance to chat with the guys and catch up, and you could always count on a humorous comment or two stemming from his affable nature. Rod never met a stranger; if you thought you were, you wouldn’t be for long.
Rod passed from this life on Tuesday, Dec. 12, 2023, at Ava’s Hospice House in Sioux Falls, S.D. He was 78 years of age. Preceding him were his parents, Herman and Marie Buren; and his sister, Nelvina Popkes.
Keeping his memory close at heart are his wife, Cheryl, of Sanborn; his son, Elroy (Cindy) Buren and their children: Averie, Brylie and Parker, all of Rapid City, S.D.; his daughter, Wendy (Chuck) Vincent and their son, Miles, of Montgomery, Texas; one sister, Bev (Jerry) Kreykes; brother-in-law, Dean Popkes; other relatives and many friends.
