Charles Overby Obituary

Charles "Chuck" Overby, 86, of Milbank, SD, passed away on April 3, 2025, at Peaceful Pines in Milbank, SD. 

Memorial services will be held on Tuesday, April 15, 2025, at 10:30 a.m. at Mundwiler Funeral Home in Milbank, SD. Visitation will be one hour prior to the service at the funeral home. Rev. Dr. DeVern Schwenn will officiate. Private burial will be at Hope Lutheran Cemetery in Summit, SD.

Charles Bruce Overby passed away on April 3, 2025. Bruce (given name) was born in Wilmot, SD, on April 22, 1938. He lived with his parents in Wilmot and attended Lake #2 School until second grade. He then attended Wilmot Public School, graduating in May 1956. Bruce was a stand-out basketball player, leading the Wilmot Wolves to their first conference basketball championship and their first trip to the South Dakota State ‘B’ Basketball Tournament. He and three other players had earned their Eagle Scout rank just prior to their participation in the tournament.

Upon graduating from high school, Bruce attended Huron College, where he earned a position on the Huron College Varsity Basketball team. He was also selected to sing with the Collegiate Choir. The following year, he transferred to Northern State Teachers College in Aberdeen, where he earned an associate degree in elementary education.

In 1959, Bruce began his teaching career in Amherst, SD, as a seventh/eighth grade teacher and head basketball and track coach. In October 1959, he joined the North Dakota Air National Guard, where he served honorably for six years as a medic. Bruce’s enlistment coincided with the Cuban Missile Crisis and involved intensive training to prepare for potential attacks. While serving in the Guard, he taught at Big Stone City and later for two years in Wilmot, where he was also the assistant basketball and football coach.

On November 23, 1961, he married Rosalie Ann Westberg. He and Rose moved to Bloomington, MN, where Bruce taught for 11 years before becoming an elementary principal in 1972.

Bruce completed his bachelor’s degree at Northern State Teachers College, his master’s degree at Mankato State University, and his sixth-year degree at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN.

Bruce spent 20 years in the classroom and 20 years as a principal, superintendent, and Director of Special Education. He was a member of the Lions Club and Kiwanis. He served for fourteen years as an assistant and full Scoutmaster with the Boy Scouts, having earned the rank of Eagle Scout himself. He was also a member of American Legion Post #17 in Watertown, SD.

Bruce was an avid hunter and enjoyed fishing with his wife, Rose, and their daughters, Jillene and Cori. He was very proud of his talented daughters and found great joy in working with the hundreds of children he taught over the years. Bruce and Rose spent many years living in Minnesota at their lake home, where they enjoyed growing a large garden each year and fishing for crappie and bass. He was proud to be a patriotic American and grateful to live in the good ol’ United States.

He is survived by his daughters: Jillene Overby of Shawnee, OK, Cori Beth Overby of South Haven, MN; sister, Jeannette Howell; several brothers-in-law and sisters-in-law; and many nieces and nephews.

Bruce was preceded in death by his parents: Clifford and Edna “Suzie” Overby; his beloved wife, Rosalie Ann Overby (2016); paternal grandparents: Charles and Matilda Overby; maternal grandparents: Maux and Flossie Sandman; two sisters: Sandra Thomas and Patricia Krell; and parents-in-law: Woodrow and Mabel Westberg. 

Donations may be made to the American Heart Association.