William D. “Bill” Tejral

Bill Tejral

CROFTON — William D. “Bill” Tejral, 61, Crofton, died April 21, 2024, from injuries sustained in an automobile accident.

Mass of Christian Burial was April 27 at St. Boniface Catholic Church, Menominee, with Rev. Jim Keiter officiating.

Burial was in the parish cemetery. Visitations and a wake service were April 26 at St. Boniface Catholic Church, and resumed one hour prior to the services at the church.

The Opsahl-Kostel Funeral Home and Crematory, Yankton, S.D., assisted with the service details.

William Dean “Bill” Tejral, son of Emil and Camilla (McAllister) Tejral was born Sept. 24, 1962, in Lynch. Bill attended Spencer high school. Bill married the love of his life, Amy Tramp, June 27, 1987, in St. Boniface Catholic Church, Menominee. Together they adopted two sons, Samuel Alen and Phillip Timothy.

As a kid, he worked with his dad at “Emil’s 66” station, mowed yards in Spencer, his first of many careers, and spent summers on the farm. Through the years he lived in Menominee, Grand Island, Rock Valley, Iowa, and Crofton.

Bill was a man of many talents having worked at various places including Woodburn Ambulance; Stockman’s Livestock, where he gained the nickname “Digger;” Kolberg’s; Kooima Industries; Alumax; Applied Engineering; Avera; Auto Zone and alongside his wife, Amy, at Opsahl/ Kostal.

His family and his faith were the most important things to him in life. He joined the Knights of Columbus in Spencer, and remained a member of St. Boniface Catholic Church. He acted as a mentor, godfather and confirmation sponsor for many nieces and nephews, and his brother-inlaw, throughout the years.

Being a most patient soul, Bill taught countless nieces and nephews how to drive. He also taught countless family members timeless pranks and took many for “Roller coaster” rides over the big hills on the gravel roads in his truck, just so they could feel the butterflies in their bellies. Bill had a way of making everyone laugh with his quick wit and humor.

He is survived by his loving wife, Amy, and sons, Samuel and Phillip, Crofton; father-in-law, Quinten Tramp, Yankton, S.D.; Ellie Mae Kleinschmit, birth mother of Samuel; and Megan Dodd, birth mother of Phillip; siblings, Dorothy (Rob) Winchell, Yankton, S.D.; Don (Deb) Tejral, O’Neill; Mary (Randy) Lihs, O’Neill; Roberta (Frank) Kleinschmit, St. Helena; Ronnie Tejral (Johnny Pitts), Greenville, S.C.; Larry (Deb) Tejral, Sergeant Bluff, Iowa; Debbie Tejral, Spencer; Bob (Rhonda) Tejral, Yankton, S.D.; Geralyn (Mitch) LaCroix, Vermillion, S.D.; Lisa Tejral, Yankton, S.D.; and Quinten (Mary) Tramp, Colorado Springs, Colo.

He is preceded in death by his parents, Emil and Camilla Tejral; brother, David Galles; and mother-in-law, Imogene Tramp.