Funeral services for Alvern B. "Johnny" Reis, 87, of Chamberlain will be 10:30 am Monday, January 29, 2018 at the Zion Lutheran Church in Chamberlain with burial in the Riverview Cemetery at Chamberlain. Visitation will be Sunday beginning at 5:00 pm with a prayer service at 7:00 pm at the Zion Lutheran Church in Chamberlain.

Alvern B. Reis was born April 26, 1930 at Plankinton to Andrew and Millie (Petersen) Reis. At the age of four, the family moved from Plankinton to a ranch on the White River Bottom. He attended White River Country School and later Harrison School in West Point Township during his 7th and 8th grade years. He then attended Chamberlain High School in Chamberlain. During his teen years, he lived and worked with his sister Evelyn and her husband Louie. It was during this time they started calling him "Johnny" which fortunately stuck throughout his life.

On October 15, 1950, Johnny was united in marriage to Ellen Doris Kiehn. After their marriage, they moved to the Kiehn family farm near Ola, SD where he had to learn to be a farmer and how to fix broken machinery. To this union, three children were born Allen, Carol, and Cindy. He expected the kids to be mind readers as he would tell us to get the "thing-a-ma-jig" out of the shed. He also expected them to know hand signals when fixing fence.

In 1973, they left the farm and moved into Pukwana and Johnny began working for the Brule County Co-Op delivering fuel and later as the manager. He served as Pukwana's Mayor during the Turkey Racing days. Upon his retirement around 1989, they moved to Chamberlain. In 2015, Johnny became a resident of Sanford Care Center in Chamberlain.

Johnny was a true cowboy and riding horse all the time during his younger years gave him his signature pigeon toes. He enjoyed camping, fishing, playing cards, and visiting with people.

Johnny passed away on January 25, 2018 at Sanford Care Center in Chamberlain at the age of 87 years. Gratefully sharing his life are his wife of 67 years Ellen Reis of Chamberlain; son Allen Reis and Scoti of Chamberlain; two daughters Carol Herbst and Jerry and Cindy Wingert and Dennis all of Chamberlain; grandchildren Tayn Reis, Britney Reis, Joshua Reuer, Dana Rogers, Kevin Rogers, Katie Lechette, Travis Thompson, and Weston Thompson; and great grandchildren Alexandra, Aidyn, Ava, Dabria, Elby, Mayhem, Harry, Finn, Gus, McKenna, Evan, Paisley, Sidney, Charlotte, and McKenzie.

Preceding him in death were his parents Andrew and Millie Reis; brothers Dennis, Floyd, Gordon "Bus", Stanley, and Merlyn; sisters Audrey Ommen, Magel Lucas, Evelyn Bailey, and Arlene Newland; an infant sibling; grandchild Trinity Reis; great grandchild Mia Michelle; and son-in-law Rick Rogers.