Elton "Jake" Vilhauer

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Elton “Jake” Vilhauer left this world to be with our Lord on April 9, 2016 after 84 years of living a full and fruitful life in Highmore, South Dakota. 

Funeral service was held at 10:00 a.m., Wednesday, April 13, 2016 at Our Savior Lutheran Church, Highmore.  Burial followed at the Highmore Cemetery.  Visitation was held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, April 12, 2016 with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service, all at the church.

Elton Elroy Vilhauer, who was known as Jake, was born and raised on the family farm three and a half miles from Highmore, SD on March 21, 1932 to Jacob and Olga (Schaefer) Vilhauer.  He was the only son of five children.  Jake took over the operation of the farm when his parents retired and moved to Highmore in 1956.

Jake was a 1951 graduate of Highmore High School.  He met Arlene Hansen in May of 1954 when she was selling poppies for Memorial Day.  They were married on June 26, 1955 and lived on the family farm.  They welcomed four children to their family, two daughters: Tammy and Laurie, and two sons: Steven and Jon.

Jake raised cattle, sheep, hogs and chickens and did so until 1991 when he sold off the livestock and focused on selling seed and farming.  Jake’s favorite crop was corn.  He enjoyed planting it, watching it grow and harvesting the golden kernels. 

In his later years Jake also enjoyed planting a large garden and supplying many Highmore residents with fresh produce.  Two of his favorite vegetables were sweet corn and pumpkins.  He did not just plant a few rows of sweet corn but three acres and he did not plant a few pumpkin plants but hundreds.  The sweet corn was mostly given away with some of it sold in Pierre to customers who will miss him this year because Jake always added a few more ears to a dozen.  For over twenty years Jake, known as the Pumpkin Man, raised pumpkins for the local children. The kindergarten through third graders would come to the farm on a field trip to pick out a pumpkin for Halloween.  The only rule was that they had to be able to carry the pumpkin back to the bus. 

In the 1970’s and 80’s Jake, Arlene and their good friend Robert Gadd had a country dance band called Country Roads.  Jake played rhythm guitar and sang lead vocals.  For over fifteen years he sang songs made popular by Buck Owens, Merle Haggard, George Jones and George Strait.  Jake and Arlene were inducted into the South Dakota Country Music Hall of Fame in September of 2014.

Jake was a huge supporter of his community and served on the church council, telephone board, FHA board, ASC board and was a county commissioner.  He enjoyed watching the high school boys and girls basketball teams and attended as many games as possible.

Jake is survived by his wife of over 60 years Arlene of Highmore, four children: Tammy (Rick) Otten of Sioux Falls, Laurie (Tom) Sutterer of Rapid City, Steven (Susan) Vilhauer of Aberdeen, and Jon (Sarah) Vilhauer of Oak Point, TX; two sisters: Alta Roti and Betty (Larry) Olson; six grandchildren:  Jacob Sutterer, Jessica (Justin) Hill, Jarad (Megan) Otten, and Trey, Addison and Owen Vilhauer; two great grandchildren: Cyaphas and Ahna Hill; and several nieces and nephews.

Jake was preceded in death by his parents; two sisters: Cuba Shaffer and Lillian Samualsen; and brother-in-law, Leo Roti.

Memorials can be sent to Steps for Hope, PO Box 541, Highmore, SD 57345 or Hyde County Scholarship Foundation, PO Box 645, Highmore, SD 57345.