Phil W. Kaltenbach was born July 26, 1902, at Manchester, Iowa, to George W. and Grace (Smith) Kaltenbach.

In 1907 or 1908, he moved with his parents, brother Harry, and sister Martha to the Murdo, South Dakota, area.  His father worked on the railroad in conjuction with the family filing on a claim south of Murdo, which they lived on until 1924.  Phil worked for Homestake Gold Mine for 13 months prior to moving to Washabaugh County in 1924.

Phil was united in marriage to Mary V. Sorenson on April 18, 1924, at Murdo, South Dakota.

In 1931, Phil attended Coyne Electrical School in Chicago, Illinois, where he learned to rewind windcharger generators.  This trade made the living for the family.  The income from milking 30 goats for a herd of about 100 was what was used to buy parts to build a well drilling machine which he built in 1936.  He drilled more than 450 wells in Washabaugh and surrounding counties.  After the death of his son, Don, in 1982, Phil quit drilling wells and sold the machine to a neighbor, and it is still in running order today.

Because of health reasons, Phil and Mary moved into the Lake Andes Care Center in January of 1993.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Mary, of Lake Andes; four sons: Edwin A. Kaltenbach of Worthing, South Dakota; Robert K. Kaltenbach of St. Paul, Nebraska; Eugene Lloyd Kaltenbach of Helena, Montana; and Kenneth R. Kaltenbach of Beresford, South Dakota; two daughters, Betty Berry of Kadoka and Judith Nelson of Lake Andes; a daughter-in-law, Hope Kaltenbach of Martin, South Dakota; 26 grandchildren; 36 great-grandchildren; 1 great-great grandson; and a host of other relatives and friends.

In addition to his son, Donald, he was preceded in death by his parents; one brother, Harry, in 1965; and his sister, Martha, in 1984.

Services
Saturday, September 2, 1995
11:00 a.m.
Our Savior's Lutheran Church
Longvalley, South Dakota

Officiating
Reverend Keith Smith

Music
Judith Nelson - Pianist
Marcia & Elizabeth Kaltenbach - Vocalists

Ushers/Active Pallbearers (Grandsons)
Jim Berry - John Berry
Mark Kaltenbach - Fred Kaltenbach
Tim Kaltenbach - Ben Kaltenbach
Lance Kaltenbach - Scott Kaltenbach
Chad Kaltenbach - David Kaltenbach
Jay Kaltenbach - Mark Nelson

Honorary Pallbearers
All relatives and friends in attendance

Interment
Longvalley Community Cemetery
Longvalley, South Dakota