Eldean Eugene Kjose was born November 25, 1935 on the family farm 7 miles west of Akron, Iowa to Alfred and Julia (Nielsen) Kjose. He died June 25, 2023 at the Centerville Care and Rehab Center at the age of 87 years, seven months and one day.

Eldean attended eight years at Pleasant Ridge Country School. His mother died in a car crash after he finished 7th grade. Eldean completed one year of high school then quit to farm 250 acres with his dad using two row machinery. In 1950 he met Geraldine Ann Sundleaf of Vermillion. They were married in December 1954 and had two sons. They moved to Sherburn, MN for a year where Eldean worked for a feed lot, feeding 800 cattle and 800 hogs with a scoop shovel. They returned to South Dakota to farm and were hailed out in 1962 with no insurance. At this time, Alcester Manufacturing was a steam cleaner manufacturing business and Eldean worked there as a welder. He managed his farm hours so he could still work full time, eventually becoming a Service Manager.

After 20 years at Alkota, Eldean borrowed from his farm to help finance the start-up cost for AaLadin Industries in Elk Point, SD, which he, along with Bill Busker and Pat Wingen founded in 1981. In 1988 the couple moved into Alcester to a home they built and Eldean retired in November 2000. He and Jerry liked showing their vintage1902 Rambler auto. Eldean loved time spent with his family and enjoyed playing senior men's golf league in Alcester.

He is preceded in death by his parents, his beloved wife, Jerry in 2020; and his brother, Dennis Kjose.

Grateful for having shared in his life are his sons, Michael (Jill) Kjose of Vermillion and Mitch (Barb) Kjose of Sioux Falls; four grandchildren, five great-grandchildren and a close friend, Gordon Schoellerman.

Funeral services will be 10AM Friday, June 30, 2023 at Peace Lutheran Church, 309 E 2nd Street in Alcester with burial to follow at Pleasant Hill Cemetery. Visitation will be 6-7PM Thursday at the church with a prayer service at 7PM. The family request memorials to Peace Lutheran Church.