Earl Bohlen

Earl Bohlen,age 92, of Milbank, SD, passed away on February 6, 2022.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, February 12, 2022, at 10:30 a.m. at Emanuel Lutheran Church in Milbank. Visitation will be held on Friday evening at Mundwiler Funeral Home in Milbank from 5:00 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. Visitation will continue at the church on Saturday, one hour prior to the service. Burial will be in the Milbank City Cemetery.

The service will be livestreamed and recorded and will be available at the bottom of Earl’s page at www.mundwilerfuneralhome.net.

Earl David Bohlen was born on October 4, 1929, in Corona, SD, to Otto and Reka (Benting) Bohlen, and attended school in the Corona School District.

On July 13, 1949, Earl was united in marriage with Helen Grabow in at Trinity Lutheran Church in Corona. Together, they were blessed with five children.

Earl started out as a barber when he and Helen lived in St. Paul in the early 1950’s. After a short time of living in Watertown, Earl made the move back to Milbank and worked as a door-to-door salesman for Cutco Cutlery, a career of which he was very proud. In the mid-1950’s, Earl built the Mill Motel at the corner of Highway 12 and Highway 15, which launched him into real estate development. Going into business with Ken Keller, they bought and restored the Manor Motel, adding the first indoor swimming pool and sauna in Milbank and offering community memberships. Earl’s foray into building apartment homes began in the late 1960’s. He was Realtor of the year in 1975 and in 1976 became the Director of National Association of Realtors.

Being of community mind, Earl was very active in Milbank area. He was an active member of the Milbank Kiwanis Club, Ducks Unlimited, Pheasants Forever, Rod & Gun Club and a founding member of the Whetstone Valley Snowmobile Association. He was also a very active member of Emanuel Lutheran Church where he served on several committees: namely, the building and organ boards, and he proudly sang in the men’s choir.

When Earl wasn’t on a business venture or at work on his real estate, he enjoyed hunting, fishing in Canada, snowmobiling, and leisurely boat rides on Big Stone Lake. Earl and Helen loved to travel together and travelled all over the world. Earl was an Indy 500 enthusiast, loved to bird watch, and never turned down a worthy opponent in a card game. In later years, he and Helen spent many winters in Scottsdale, AZ.

Earl is survived by his children: Diane (Bill) Bulygo of Apple Valley, MN; Douglas (Beth) Bohlen of Corona, SD; and Earl (Lena) Bohlen of Spring Branch, TX; daughter-in-law, Bobbie Bohlen of Milbank, SD; ten grandchildren: Eric Bulygo, Maryn Miklas, Zachary Bulygo, Emily Carr, Caroline Bohlen-Kilgore, Jon Bohlen, Christopher Bohlen and Claire Bohlen, Robert Schafer and Reanna Schafer; eleven great-grandchildren; brothers: Dean Bohlen and Dennis Bohlen; along with many other family members and friends.

Preceding him in death are his wife, Helen in 2020; son, Richard Bohlen; daughter, Jenica Bohlen; mother, Reka Bohlen; father, Otto (Irene) Bohlen; brothers: Arthur Bohlen, James Bohlen, Donald Bohlen, Reiner Bohlen, and Milton Bohlen; and sister, Vera Tietjen.

In lieu of flowers, memorials made be made to the following charitable organizations: Orphan Grain Train and Citizens for Big Stone Lake (to donate by check to Citizens for Big Stone Lake: P. O. Box 121 Ortonville, MN 56278)