William Kullander
William E. “Bill” Kullander, 83, of Sioux Falls, SD passed away on Sunday, May 11, 2025 at Ava’s House in Sioux Falls, SD.
Visitation with the family present to greet friends will be Thursday, May 15, from 5:00 – 7:00 pm with a public Masonic Service beginning at 6:30 pm at Miller Funeral Home Downtown, 507 S. Main Ave., Sioux Falls, SD.
Funeral service will be held Friday, May 16 at 10:30 am at Miller Funeral Home Downtown with burial in Hills of Rest Cemetery, Sioux Falls, SD.
William E. “Bill” Kullander was born September 30th, 1941 to Earl W. and Eva I. (Garfoot) Kullander at the Swedish Hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota. He attended Emerson, Jefferson and Edison grade schools in Sioux Falls and graduated from Washington Senior High School in 1959. Bill was employed in various job capacities before becoming employed at John Morrell & Co. in 1961.
On December 20th, 1963 he was united in marriage to Lana Jean Habeger in Madison, SD. Bill was employed as a systems installer by Western Electric from 1963 to 1965, then was employed by Bankers Life of Des Moines in sales. He was hired by Electric Construction Company as a major appliance sales representative from January 1968 to November 1969 at which time he was employed by Northern States Power Company in Sioux Falls as a sales and marketing representative working with local developers and builders in the greater Sioux Falls area.
In 1987, Bill was promoted to Area Relations Representative for NSP-SD ( Excel Energy). In that capacity he was active in working with municipal and County government and the economic development field. Bill is a past president of the Sioux Falls Corvette Club, having served two different terms, past president of the Midwest Corvette Club, the Sioux Empire Kennel Club, the Sioux Falls Ballooning Association and the Fraternal Order of Police Associate Lodge, again having served two terms with the latter two organizations. He is past chairman of the Sioux Falls Chamber of Commerce Ambassadors, the Chamber's Agri-Business Committee and past chairman of the Sioux Empire Fair Board. Bill is a member of Masonic Lodge Trinity #200, El Riad Shrine and member of the Classic Cars, Sioux Falls Ballooning Association, Sioux Empire Kennel Club, Fraternal Order of Police Associates, Public Relations Network, Harrisburg Area Development Corporation, National Rifle Association, Great Plains Street Rodders Association.
Bill holds a commercial Hot Air Balloon pilot license and has been active in the sport of hot air balloon aviation since 1975. A couple of main high lights in his hot air ballooning career was to be a Fiesta Pilot at the 6th World Gas Balloon Championship and the 1st World Roziere Balloon Championship Races held at Tyndall, SD, September 21st thru September 30th, 1990. Bill also assisted in the inflation and launching of a 20' by 125' American flag over Mt. Rushmore on its 50th Anniversary on July 3rd, 1991, then flew over Mt. Rushmore his hot air balloon "The Peppermint Twist" under a special 500 ft FAA wavier on the morning of July 4th, 1991, with five other South Dakota balloonists and balloons.
Grateful for having shared his life are his wife Lana, his daughters, Holly (Douglas) Verschelde and KariLynn (Craig) Berndt; four grandchildren, Christopher (Britney) Kullander, Camden Berndt, Kylie Berndt, Kiara Berndt; two Great Grandchildren, William and Wesley Kullander. He was preceded in death by his parents; Earl and Eva Kullander; sister, MaeLou (Dale) Tumbleson; and his Grandparents, Aunts and Uncles