Carrol Langeland: 1948-2023
Carrol Langeland, 75, of Menno, passed away unexpectedly from natural causes on May 23 at his residence. A funeral service will be held Friday, June 2 at 10:30 a.m. at Peace Christian Reformed Church of Menno. Visitation will be Thursday, June 1 from 5 to 7 p.m. at Walter’s Funeral Home in Freeman, with a prayer service at 7 p.m.
Carrol Dale Langeland was born to Earl and Agnes (Edelman) Langeland on April 18, 1948 in Yankton, S.D. He joined older sister, Earla and was later followed by brother, Merritt. As an infant he was baptized at Trinity Lutheran Church, Yankton. Carrol grew up on a farm southeast of Menno, S.D. He attended Morning Star country school, Menno Public High School, and South Dakota State University earning a degree in agricultural engineering.
Carrol’s passion for flying came at an early age. Whether he was laying on the ground observing airplane contrails or playing with his Sky Rocket toy, he’d say to himself, “Someday I’m going to do that.” Set on following this dream, Carrol joined ROTC during his college years and was accepted into the US Air Force upon graduation.
Carrol then met the love of his life, Glenda Dewald, and after a brief courtship they were married on Feb. 21, 1971. The two moved to Selma, Alabama where Carrol completed pilot training at Craig Air Force Base. Learning to fly the T-38 supersonic jet in squadron formation was something Carrol looked back on with pride.
During his years serving as an Air Force officer, Carrol was trained to fly the C-130 Hercules military transport aircraft and the B-52 jet-powered strategic bomber. Carrol served in the Vietnam War. He and Glenda were stationed at Ching Chuan Kang Air Force Base in Taichung, Taiwan. Following his tour of duty, Carrol and Glenda returned to the states. At Loring Air Force base in Limestone, Maine, the couple welcomed their first two daughters, Michelle and Mandy. After his final posting at Rickenbacker Air Force Base in Columbus, Ohio, Carrol was honorably discharged as a Captain from the US Air Force in 1977.
Returning to the family farm in South Dakota, Carrol and Glenda settled into a life of dairy and crop farming while also welcoming a third daughter, Heather. Carrol’s love of flying led him to start an aerial crop dusting business, Hutchinson Ag Service. Over the years, Carrol also worked as a charter pilot out of Yankton and later Vermillion, S.D.
After retiring from dairy farming, Carrol and Glenda sold the farm and moved into a house next to his airplane hangar. During these years, they enjoyed snowbirding in Phoenix, Ariz., and welcomed five granddaughters. Carrol carried on with crop farming and continued operating as a spray pilot into his 70’s – this included working for Becker Flying Service out of Hartington, Neb.
In November of 2014, Glenda suffered a brain aneurysm. Carrol considered her recovery a miracle of God and lovingly cared for her until his last day. Carrol and Glenda celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary in 2021.
Carrol and Glenda were faithful church attenders and took part in the life of several area congregations over the years. Carrol took his faith to heart and contemplated deeply what it meant to serve God.
Carrol will be remembered for his unique sense of humor including his April Fool’s Day antics, his optimistic outlook on life, his love of chocolate, popular music, games and puzzles – especially crosswords, his interest in nature – particularity the birds and celestial bodies who shared the skies with him, and his beloved pets. Carrol adored his daughters and granddaughters, always encouraging them and taking interest in their dreams and ambitions. He instilled in them a strong work ethic that always included time for fun and relaxation.
After struggling for several months with respiratory issues, Carrol passed away peacefully at home on May 23, 2023. Cherishing his memory are his wife, Glenda; his three daughters, Michelle (Colin) Hofer of Freeman, S.D., Mandy (Jason) Van Hofwegen of Lynden, Wash., and Heather of Salem, S.D.; granddaughters: Madeline and Claire Hofer, and Emma, Lily and Ava Van Hofwegen; sister Earla (Dick) Strid of Delmont, S.D.; and a host of extended family and friends.
Memorial gifts may be designated to Fisher House Foundation, a charity supporting all military veterans and their families – www.fisherhouse.org.
