Milton Scholten, 86
Milton Scholten, 86, of Valley Springs, S.D., passed away on Saturday, Feb. 20, 2021, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls due to COVID-19.
Funeral services will begin at 1 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 25, 2021, at Valley Springs Reformed Church in Valley Springs. Visitation with family present to greet friends will be from 5 to 7 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2021, at George Boom Funeral Chapel in Brandon.
Milton Joseph Scholten, son of Albert and Delia (Horn) Scholten, was born at home in rural Larchwood, Iowa, on Dec. 8, 1934. At three months old, the family moved to Valley Springs where he would live the remainder of his life. At the age of 10, his family moved to a farm north of Valley Springs, where he was currently living. He was united in marriage to MarLene Voeltz on May 13, 1955, in Beaver Creek, Minn. After marriage, they carried on the family tradition of milking cows and farming. In 1970, he started incorporating exotic birds and animals into his farming business, creating Milt’s Menagerie. Throughout the years, they had many types of exotic animals including black bear, buffalo, zebra, and a lion. Milton started the exotic bird club. His favorite animals were the exotic birds including Canadian geese, peacocks, turkeys, Mandarin ducks, a variety of pheasants, chickens, and numerous other water fowl. Milton shipped his exotic animals all over the world and some have appeared in movies. Milton and MarLene have been longtime members of Valley Springs Reformed Church. He enjoyed operating his business and spending quality time with his family.
Left to cherish his memory are his wife, MarLene of Valley Springs; children, Mary Jo (Scott Wick) Beal of Sioux Falls, Michael (Sherry) Scholten of Valley Springs, Melaine (Dirk) Johnson of Valley Springs, Marcia (Jerry) Christianson of Murfreesboro, Tenn., Mark (Catherine) Scholten of Mooresville, N.C., and Maria Ackerman of Valley Springs; 20 grandchildren, Jon (Amanda) Beal, Matt Beal, Ed (Chelsea) Beal, Jessica (Aaron) Bahmuller, Ashley (Jeremy) Meyer, Lisa (Jay) Hanisch, Terrie (Phil) Swanson, Becky (Scott) Reinhardt, Amanda (Kyle) Martin, Casey (Jason) Scholten, Kathryn (Wade) Lofton, Joseph (Julie) Johnson, EB (Tyler) Carda, Lindsey (Bryce) Block, Shyanne Johnson, Tommy (Holly) Christianson, Amy (John) Saad, Nicole (Mark) Scholten, Victoria (Robert) Scholten, Grace (David) Ackerman, and Johnny Ackerman; 45 great-grandchildren, Jordan and Connor Hanisch, Dillon (Taylor) and Parker Swanson, Shelby (Morgan) Engbrecht, Nash Williams, Jett and Case Beal, Sally Jo and Esmae Beal, Brayden, Lily, and Archer Bahmuller, Addyson, Avery, and Aria Meyer, Alexis, Bryce, Carley, Destiney, Elijah, Forester, Graham, Hope, Isabel, and Jeremiah Lofton, Preston, Peyton, and Paisley Johnson, Tate, Tyson, Trey, and Tessa Carda, Hadley, Harper, and Hunter Block, Delilah and Davis Reinhardt, Noah and Gunnar Martin, Noah Mabe, Eli, Emry Jane, and Nathan Christianson, Tenley and Sawyer Saad; five great-great-grandchildren, Rylan, Jarret, and Shaeden Swanson, Rome and Evie Engebrecht; brother, Kenneth (Judy) Scholten of Cypress, Texas; sister, Marlys Snyders of Larchwood, Iowa; sisters-in-law, LaVerne Scholten of Valley Springs and Sharon Hahn of Torrance, Calif.; sons-in-law, Arch Beal of Sioux Falls and Dan Ackerman of Valley Springs; and a host of other loving family and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Kathryn Elofson; and brother, Alvin Scholten.
For online condolences, visit georgeboom.com
