Silas "Si" Ulrich

Silas “Si” Ulrich, age 99, of Ortonville, MN, who died on August 31, 2023, at the Ortonville Area Health Service Hospital.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Mundwiler Funeral Home in Milbank, SD. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. A luncheon will take place following the service at the Big Stone American Legion in Big Stone City, SD. Interment will be at Yellowbank Emmanuel Cemetery.

Silas “Si” Ulrich, age 99, of Ortonville, MN, who died on August 18, 2023, at the Ortonville Area Health Service Hospital.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, September 5, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. at Mundwiler Funeral Home in Milbank, SD. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the service. A luncheon will take place following the service at the Big Stone American Legion in Big Stone City, SD. Interment will be at Yellowbank Emmanuel Cemetery.

Silas George Ulrich was born on November 14, 1923, in Ortonville, MN, to George and Elsie (Henkelman) Ulrich. He was baptized and confirmed at the Evangelical United Brethren Church in Bellingham, MN. Si grew up on the family farm one mile north of Rosen, MN. He attended country school at District #97 (half a mile south of Rosen) and later attended Bellingham High School.   Following high school, Si continued to farm alongside his father on the family farm.

Si met Louise Wallmann at the Eagle Café in Ortonville where she worked as a waitress. On March 16, 1952, Si was united in marriage with Louise at Emmanuel Evangelical Church in Hankinson, ND, where she was from.

Together, Si and Louise made their home on the family farm which Si farmed for 13 years. They attended church at Evangelical United Brethren which later became the United Methodist Church of Bellingham. His first job while he was still on the farm was a salesman and later, district manager for Occo Feed Supplement Company. Si helped with farming until his father passed away in 1965. After his father’s death, Si and Louise moved to Breckenridge, MN, where Si worked at Fieldcrest Fertilizer as a sales manager for 10 years. As a sideline, Si owned Si’s Camper Sales, where he sold Winnebago motorhomes and trailers.

In 1974, the couple moved to Appleton, MN, where Si sold Agri-Cover roll-up truck tarps until 1979. Si and Louise moved to Ortonville in 1979 where Si worked for Stegner Golf Carts for 10 years. He established dealerships in a six-state area and won all expense paid trips to Hawaii for he and Louise three years in a row.

In Ortonville, on December 12, 1946, Si took his flying exam at the Ortonville Airport, with Vince Stegner giving the test, and earned his pilot’s license. He later purchased his own plane and enjoyed giving family, neighbors, and friends rides in his Piper Cherokee 140. Si also enjoyed riding motorcycles, snowmobiles, boats, his tandem bicycle, and roller skating. Si and Louise loved to dance, especially polka. He played the sousaphone in the Rosen Community Band as well as several local polka bands including, “Rusty Hinges” and “Thunder Road”. Si continued to enjoy going to polka dances (in his wheelchair) two weeks before he passed.

Si is survived by five nieces: Susan Schultz of Mantador, ND; Sandy Hubrig of Hankinson, ND; Nancy Schmidt-Hanson of Illinois; Jane Kulla of Maple Grove, MN; and Wanda Thompson of Eagan, MN; and; two nephews: Jeff Schmidt of Hankinson, ND; and Stan Schmidt of Medford, WI; four cousins: Gretchen   Brayley of Kerrville, TX; Vernon Henkelman of Appleton, MN; Donald Henkelman of Correll, MN; and Dale Henkelman of Willmar, MN; and extended family: Ken (Sharyl) Ulrich, Darion Ulrich, Jessica (Brian) Hoffman, Brody   Hoffman, Ryker Hoffman, Linda (Harold) Newcomb, Joyce Mork, David Ulrich, Faye (David) Wahl, Cindy (Randy) Griffin, Judy (Danny) Ulrich, Bonnie Erickson, Tim (Theresa) Ulrich, Daniel Ulrich, and Sarah Ulrich.

Preceding him in death are his father, George; mother, Elsie; wife, Louise in 2006; and infant brother, Jessie Ulrich.

Si was especially grateful to his caregiver, Jessica Larson for all she did for him and Louise over many years. He was so happy to be able to watch Jessica’s young son, Matthew, grow up. Beginning when he was only three days old, Matthew would come along with Jessica on many of her care visits to Silas. Si also enjoyed watching Brody, Ryker, Daniel, and Sarah grow and cherished their visits.