Orlen Borns

Orlen Borns, age 85, of Milbank, SD, passed away on December 11, 2020, at Milbank Area Hospital – Avera Health.

Funeral services will be held on Friday, December 18, at 10:30 a.m. at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in South Shore, SD.  Pastor Ken Nelson will officiate and interment will be in the Milbank City Cemetery.  Visitation will be held on Thursday, December 17, from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. at Mundwiler Funeral Home in Milbank and will continue one hour prior to the service on Friday.

While maintaining social distancing guidelines, we are now able to gather for visitations and services. The use of face masks by attendees is recommended, and we will continue taking the necessary steps to keep our facility clean. For those who prefer or require continued precautions, webcasting and/or livestreaming will be viewable at the bottom of this page.

Orlen Eugene Borns was born on July 25, 1935, in Watertown, SD, to Frank and Helen (Meseberg) Borns. He grew up in the South Shore area and graduated from South Shore High School.

After high school, Orlen served in the United States Army and was stationed in Germany for 18 months. Upon his return, Orlen was united in marriage with Clarice Wright on July 9, 1960. Together, they had one son, Todd.

When Orlen returned home from Germany, he set out to find his first job as a civilian. He found a job on a bridge crew and he and Clarice purchased an 8 by 35-foot trailer and moved it to where ever Orlen was working. Orlen was working at Box Elder when he received his notice to report to Fort Chaffee, AK, because of the Cuban Missile Crisis.

Orlen and Clarice moved back to the Milbank area and Orlen found a job with Hunters Quarry as a rock polisher, and worked there for 18 years until they closed the office in Milbank. Orlen was hired by Dakota Granite as a rock polisher and worked there until his retirement. One memory of the family is when Orlen was getting a new head polisher from Italy. This was his pride and joy and many stories were shared about how he enjoyed the two Italians who came over to install the new machine. They lived in Homan’s Trailer Court for many years until purchasing a home on Lakewood Drive.

Orlen was a member of the American Legion and a member of Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in South Shore.

He is survived by his son, Todd Borns of Milbank, SD; and brothers: Harland (Marlyce) Borns of Watertown, SD; and Marlin (Dorothy) Borns of Omaha, NE.

Preceding Orlen in death are his wife, Clarice in 2019; his daughter-in-law, Michelle Borns; and his parents: Frank and Helen Borns.