Jimmie R. Vollan

Jimmie R. Vollan, age 76, of Garretson, passed away on Monday, September 7, 2026, while visiting his daughter in Yankton. Funeral services will begin at 1:00 PM Monday, September 14, 2026, at East Nidaros Lutheran Church, rural Baltic. Interment will be in the church cemetery. Visitation will be from 3:00-6:00 PM Sunday at the church. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to East Nidaros Lutheran Church.

Jimmie was born on February 14, 1950, to Curtis Jennings and Evelyn Elda (Tuenge) Vollan and grew up on a farm east of Baltic. At the age of three, Jimmie’s father passed away, and he moved with his family to a farm north of Midway. He had three special uncles in his life who were lifelong mentors, helping him become the man we all knew and loved. At the age of 16, Jimmie walked from his home to Midway Station and asked for a job. That simple step began what would become a lifelong career at Midway Station. Jimmie graduated from Baltic High School in 1968, and just one month later, on June 15, 1968, he married his high school sweetheart, Tanya Hartenhoff. In the early years, Jimmie worked for local farmers and held various other jobs to help support his growing family. In 1978, he began operating Midway Station, and in 1988, he and Tanya purchased Wold Oil Company from Roger Wold, which became Vollan Oil Company.

Jimmie spent countless hours at Midway, often working seven days a week. When his son Bruce was old enough to work full-time alongside his dad, the two split Sundays, though both still worked six and a half days a week. Jimmie was never afraid of hard work and willingly sacrificed his own time to help anyone who needed him.

He could be found behind the counter, driving the fuel truck, working in the service station, or helping a customer find a new vehicle. But no matter how busy he was, Jimmie always had time to stop and talk. He had a special knack for making people feel welcome, and he would listen to the stories of friends, family, customers, and even strangers who happened to stop at Midway. To Jimmie, people mattered more than the clock. At the age of 65 Jimmie retired and tail lights were racing down the highway. In his later years, he was also known for faithfully visiting shut-ins, friends, and family, making sure they knew they had not been forgotten.

Jimmie was a dedicated member and took ownership of many duties at East Nidaros Lutheran Church.

Family was at the center of Jimmie’s life. When he was home, his time and attention were centered on those he loved. He had a gift for juggling work, family, and friendships, always finding time for the people who mattered to him. He created a lifetime of memories with his children, grandchildren, family, and friends.

Jimmie loved motorcycles and cars and was constantly buying, selling, and trading them. He made yearly motorcycle trips to the Sturgis Rally, hosted 4th of July picnics with his wife and, in later years, became well known for his Corvettes. He also enjoyed spending time at the lake, camping with his wife and going on adventures with his family . Later, Jimmie and Tanya spent countless hours restoring their old country farmhouse, turning it into another place filled with memories and meaning.

Tanya passed away on Tuesday, July 4, 2023. Jimmie carried her memory with him in the years that followed, and his family takes comfort in knowing that he has now been reunited with his beloved wife.

His grandchildren will forever remember the many ways Grandpa Jimmie made ordinary moments special. Whether it was going to the lake, going to work with Grandpa and Grandma, seeing a movie at the theater in Dell Rapids and getting the biggest bag of popcorn, learning to ride motorcycles, or making the trip to the Sturgis Rally, the memories are endless. He taught his grandchildren much about life—not only through the things he said, but through the way he lived: working hard, helping others, making time for people, and enjoying every opportunity to create a memory.

He will be deeply missed and lovingly remembered by all who knew him. And perhaps, after a lifetime of being on the go, he has finally arrived at the place where he belongs—back beside Tanya, with family and loved ones who went before him, and at peace in the presence of the Lord.

Jimmie leaves behind a family who loved him deeply: Melanie (Travis) Vlasman, Yankton and their children, Connor and Tia; Bruce (Pamela) Vollan, Baltic, and their children, Kennedy, Maiya, and Grady; siblings: Corey (Steve) Thompson, Brandon, SD and Shavonne (Dave) Felix, Greeley, CO; and many other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Tanya, and sister Vickie Sams.