Clyde R Calhoon, 80, passed away on July 12, 2021 at the United Living Community, after a short battle with cancer.
A celebration of life was held at the Brookings Elks on Friday, July 16 from 5-7pm. The family extended an invitation to all who knew him and to celebrate his amazing life story.
Clyde was born on May 4, 1941 in Winner, SD to Leon and Wilma (Frantz) Calhoon. He was raised and worked on the family ranch near Ideal, SD and attended country grade school and Winner High School.
Clyde attended SDSU after high school where he met an east river girl, Karan Redlin. They soon became engaged and built a new home in Ideal, SD planning to live and work on the Calhoon Ranch. However, on the way to their wedding in January 1964 he was involved in an automobile accident and lost his eyesight. Plans changed and he and Karan returned to SDSU. After graduating from SDSU in 1967 and as magna cum laude from the University of South Dakota Law School in 1970, Clyde returned to Brookings to practice law. In 1971 Clyde and Karan bought a lot on Lake Poinsett and built a cabin where they spent 49 summer weekends fishing, boating and entertaining family with many a 4th of July firework celebrations.
In 1974 Clyde was elected to the office of Brookings County States Attorney. In 1976, Wm. Mark Kratochvil joined the law firm and served as deputy state’s attorney. In 2002 he was recognized as South Dakota’s first Prosecutor of the Year. During his tenure in office, Clyde earned a reputation for fairness and firmness and was known as a tough prosecutor. Clyde served the Brookings community as state’s attorney for 42 years retiring in December 2016.
Clyde was heavily involved in his community and was a founding member of the Brookings Optimist and named Optimist of the Year in 2001-2002. He also belonged to SDSU Jackrabbit Club, Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, South Dakota States Attorneys Association, National District Attorneys Association, South Dakota Bar Association. Clyde also received many awards from law enforcement over the years.
Clyde was an avid sports enthusiast following the Winner Warriors, Minnesota Twins, Vikings, Wild and the Brookings Rangers. He was a fanatic about SDSU sports, especially football and attended football in all three SDSU venues over the years and the beloved “Barn” for basketball. Clyde’s children were the light of his life and he was very proud of their success in life. But the highlights of his life were his 2 granddaughters and he followed their successes with great pride, especially their time in KCK Wildfire, Sioux Valley Cossacks and soon to be Bobcat Cheer.
Grateful for having shared his life are his wife Karan, his son Chris of Parker, Colorado and his daughter Camille Koolmo of Brookings and her husband Graham and granddaughters, Bella and Mija. His brother, Lee (Keatha) Calhoon and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents and his brother Jim.
Condolences may be sent to the family through www.rudesfuneralhome.com
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