PLEASANT
Carl Dewayne Pleasant of Columbus, passed away peacefully Thursday, Dec. 19 at age 87. He was born May 25, 1932 in Pomona, IL to Julius and Cecil Pleasant, and was the youngest of 10 children.
Carl grew up in Southern Illinois before moving to Washington state, where he graduated in 1949 from Highland High School in Tieton. He was active in track, wrestling and the Boys Scouts of America and earned the rank of Eagle Scout.
He joined the Air Force in 1949 and was stationed at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma when he met and married Dorla Smith. He served as a cryptographer stationed in the Aleutian Islands in Alaska during the Korean War.
Following his service, Carl and Dorla moved to Norman, OK, where he attended the University of Oklahoma. Carl and Dorla’s son, Dex, was born in 1953.
Carl graduated in 1956 with a degree in geological engineering, before moving to Slaton to work for Conoco on his first assignment as a geophysicist. The family traveled the country with a Conoco seismic crew, and eventually settled in Lafayette, LA, where he worked in onshore oil and gas exploration. Carl’s son Dex and wife Dorla died prematurely in 1973 and 1974, respectively.
While working at Conoco, Carl fell in love with a fellow geophysicist named Linda Tevlin. Carl and Linda were wed at the Old Cathedral in St. Louis, Missouri, on a cold Dec. 30, 1976. They lived in Katy where they had two children, Paul and Denise. After enjoying their camp house and land outside Columbus for many years, Carl and family moved to that land in 1990 – which was his 52nd move.
He was an active amateur radio operator (W5MPX) and met many friends around the world through HAM radio. He loved the outdoors and raised everything from cattle to bees and Christmas trees on the family farm. Over the years he enjoyed many hobbies including watching Sooner football, trading stocks, riding motorcycles, making wine, playing the guitar, fishing and bird hunting. He was always up for a good story around the campfire or cantina, and will be missed by so many family and friends.
Carl is survived by his loving wife of 42 years Linda Pleasant, son Paul Pleasant and wife Katy, daughter Denise Reed and husband Ryan. He also cherished his five grandchildren Andrew, Luke and Noah Pleasant; and Jacob and Kaitlyn Reed.
He is preceded in death by his first wife, Dorla Pleasant and son, Dex, as well as his parents, Julius and Cecil Pleasant, and siblings Velma Pirtle, Alberta Dixon, Beulah Malloy, Henry “Hank” Pleasant, Clinton Pleasant, Rachel Pleasant, Virginia Pleasant, Deloris “Nody” Hawk, and Earl Pleasant.
A visitation was Sunday, Dec. 22. at Henneke Funeral Home in Columbus with a parish prayer service and rosary at 6 p.m. lead by Deacon Chuck Glynn. Visitation was also on Monday, Dec. 23 at St. Roch Catholic Church in Mentz with funeral Mass with Fr. Michael Lyons officiating. Burial followed at St. Roch Catholic Cemetery.
Pallbearers were John Walker, Pete Tevlin, Leo Tevlin, Lou Tevlin, Ryan Reed and Jim Cravens.
Memorials contributions can be made to one of the schools that were near to Carl’s heart: St. Labre Indian School, Ashland, Montana 59004, www.stlabre.org, or St. Francis Indian School, P.O. Box 379, Saint Francis, South Dakota 57572, www.sfisk12.org/site.
Online condolences may be given at www.hennekefuneralhome.com.