Roland Robert “Rollie” Beran

YANKTON, S.D. — Roland Robert “Rollie” Beran, 94, Yankton, S.D., died April 30, 2021, at Avera Sister James Care Center, Yankton.

Mass of Christian Burial is 11 a.m., May 5, at St. Benedict Catholic Church, Yankton, with Rev. Tom Anderson officiating.

Burial will be in St. Rose Cemetery, Crofton, with military honors provided by the Crofton American Legion Post 31.

Visitation, with a rosary and vigil service, was May 4 at Wintz & Ray Funeral Home, Yankton. Visitation continues one hour prior to the funeral at the church.

The services will be live streamed on Rollie’s obituary page at www.wintzrayfuneralhome.com and on our Facebook page at www.facebook.com\WintzRay. Masks will be required for those attending the visitation and funeral service.

Rollie was born Nov. 26, 1926, in Ord, to Frank and Martha (Karty) Beran. After graduating from Ord High School, he joined the Navy where he spent two years in the South Pacific in the Amphibious Forces. While on the ship he started his “legendary” boxing career. Rollie was one of five brothers, his early sparring partners, who served in the Armed Forces. After returning to the states, Rollie received a bachelor’s degree in business education from Peru State College. During his first teaching job in Verdigre, he met Mount Marty nursing student, Patricia Liewer. They married in 1954. Rollie held many teaching and coaching positions all across Nebraska. He kept in touch with former students and co-workers throughout his life. Traveling through the state, he knew where to catch the biggest catfish, buy a good milkshake or find a beautiful Catholic church just in time for Mass. In 1973, the Beran family moved to Crofton, where Rollie sold insurance, once again establishing lasting friendships and discovering more farm ponds in which to fish. During that time, he served on the Knox County Supervisory Board, and was chairman of the North Frankfort Township. In 1984, his loving wife, Patricia, died in an ambulance accident while serving as a volunteer EMT. Years later, Rollie was blessed with a second marriage to Marsha Plihal.

Rollie was an avid sportsman with a special love for college athletics. His favorite, the Fighting Irish of Notre Dame, dominated the television screen every Saturday. He passed his love of college sports to his children and grandchildren. March Madness became a yearly event involving the entire family. Retirement days were spent with grandchildren: fishing, golfing and attending school activities. He and Marsha were regulars in the bleachers. Summers involved gatherings at Grandpa’s for hand size bluegill, dollar hot dogs or hamburgers. Rollie also loved following high school events and local athletes. Attending state basketball tournaments and track meets were an important yearly event. As a former coach, he embraced the successes of young people throughout Nebraska and Yankton. Later in life he got involved in thoroughbred racing, owning several horses. He loved going to Grand Island and Columbus to watch the horses run, often taking his kids and their spouses with him. Rollie and Marsha enjoyed gardening and spending time canning. His grandkids helped weed, pick beans and dig potatoes. He loved making a game out of working the garden or mowing the lawn.

Family, friends, and faith were most important to Rollie. Time with Rollie meant pancakes, popcorn and Thanksgiving dumplings and sauerkraut. He loved to entertain his kids and grandkids as he composed silly birthday songs and listened to their vocal and instrumental talents. Rollie loved to visit. He seemed to have friends everywhere. A trip to the store meant extra time to talk and visit with someone he knew or just met. He was genuinely interested in the lives and wellbeing of those around him. Rollie’s faith played a special part in his life. The Catholic church, Mass and holy hours played an important role. He believed in the power of prayer and the rosary. Children’s Masses and the House of Mary Shrine brought him joy. During his last years at Walnut Village and Majestic Bluffs, he was blessed with compassionate caregivers, “his angels,” and physician Dr. Susan Fanta and family. Along with his loving wife and family, there were many who helped him make the best of a difficult situation.

Rollie is survived by wife, Marsha, Yankton, S.D.; children, Jackie (Rod) Hegge, Omaha; Janine (Dennis) Carlow, Jill (Dan) Hoesing, Tami Jacobsen, and Kelli LaCroix, all of Yankton, S.D.; Ted (Deanne) Beran, Fort Dodge, Iowa; and Janice (Curt) McKeever, Omaha; one step son, Kevin (Angie) Plihal, Oceanside, Calif.; 20 grandchildren and their spouses; 25 great-grandchildren; brothers, Dick Beran, Ord, and Don Beran, Salina, Kan.; and many nieces and nephews.

Rollie was preceded in death by wife, Patricia (Liewer) Beran; parents, Frank and Martha Beran; son-in-law, Stan Jacobsen; brothers, Vernon and Frank; sister, Alice Rogers; sisters-in-law, Cecile Beran and Catherine (Scotty) Beran; and brother-in-law, Carson Rogers.

Memorials may be directed to the House of Mary Shrine, PO Box 455, Yankton, SD 57078.