Ervin Borland, age 94, of Colome, passed away on Sunday May 29, 2016 at the Winner Regional Long Term Care Facility. Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:00 AM Wednesday, June 1, 2016 at St. Isadore Catholic Church in Colome. Burial will follow at the Colome Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 6:00-7:00 PM Tuesday, May 31, 2016 at Mason Funeral Home in Winner with a prayer service starting at 7:00 PM.

Ervin (Bunny) Borland was born on June 18, 1921, in his home in Keya Paha, SD to Charles and Elizabeth (Seiler) Borland. He attended Beaver Creek School for 11 years. In 1938, his family moved to a farm near Colome, where he finished his schooling and graduated in 1939 from Colome High School.  In his youth, you would find Bunny playing baseball, fishing, or hunting wild game.

After high school, he lived with his parents and continued to help them farm. Bunny attended welding school in Winner and desired to use that skill working and building ships at shipyards during WWII, but never got that chance. Instead he used his acquired skill to help on the farm.  In 1941 he met the love of his life, Edna DeMers, at a dance at Dog Ear Lake. They dated for 4 years and were united in marriage in 1945. They made their home one-mile north of his parents' farm near Colome. From this union came three wonderful children: Diane (Borland) Fletcher (Deceased), Eugene Borland (Tyndall, SD), and Wayne Borland (Lake City , FL). Bunny continued to help out on his parents' farm while caring for his own crops. Along with farming and custom field work he trucked for other farmers for over 35 years making many friends and memories along the way. Eventually he included some of his grandchildren on his trucking adventures. He loved teaching and spending time with his grandchildren playing checkers and pitch with them and never had remorse for acting or looking silly. Bunny was blessed with the ability to strike up a conversation with anyone. Playing cards and dancing were two of his favorite past times.

Bunny will be remembered for his strong work ethic. He knew the "Art of Hard Work" and he spent his entire life nurturing the land and raising cattle. He would be up early and worked strong all day. His stamina and determination allowed him to continue his love of farming into his 90's until an unfortunate farming accident took him away from his passion.

Left to cherish his memory are his sons, Gene and Wayne, his brother, Leonard (Betty) Borland of Wichita, KS, his grandchildren, Chad (Melissa) Fletcher of Dell Rapids, Sherri Borland of Harrisburg, Teresa (Jack) Yeaman of Colome, Chris (Michelle) Borland of Sioux Falls, Tanya Fletcher of Colome, and ten great grandchildren. He is proceeded in death by his parents, Charles and Elizabeth, his brothers Harold and Melvin, his daughter Diane, and his wife, Edna.

The family would like to express their gratitude to the caregivers and staff of the Elder Inn and the Winner Long Term Healthcare Facility for their attention to his comfort during his illness.