Rolland “Rolly” Tiedemann was born February 24th, 1937, to Jurgen and Mona Tiedemann on the farm in Somerset, Wisconsin. Rolly loved the farm and spending time with his 5 siblings, when not in school. He attended all his elementary school years in Somerset before the family moved to Osceola, WI. Rolly graduated High School in 1955 from Hudson, WI and went on to work as a rural mail carrier and spoke frequently about working at the Union Pacific Depot in St Paul, MN and the interesting people he worked with there. Rolly also was part of the Volunteer Fire Department before packing up the wagon and heading west.
Rolly met Peggy Lindblad at Traiser’s Dairy in 1980. They moved to Idaho in the summer 1982 with Peggy’s son, Chad Lindblad. Something Else Ranch was started in 1983 by milking the neighbor’s cow. The name came from a good friend and wonderful neighbor Wilfred Fox. Rolly had called Wilfred, and when Wilfred said, “Now what”, Rolly said “something else”, and a few days later Wilfred gave Rolly a sign inscribed “Something Else Dairy” for the milk parlor.
Rolly and Peggy married in the fall of 1982, and continued farming in the Upper Country. Three boys were born to Rolly and Peggy; Mark (1984), Jesse (1987), and Elliot (1992). Rolly was able to see his dream of owning a farm turn into reality when he and Peggy purchased property from Wilfred and Maxine Fox in 1990. Rolly spent the next 23 years raising Holstein bull calves, and then switched over to beef cows.
Along with a passion for farming, Rolly was an advocate for people struggling with Alcohol and Substance abuse. He became a beacon of hope for others, offering sponsorship and support to those battling addiction. His advocacy work, particularly, within local recovery programs (WACSAC, Idaho Health & Welfare), provided countless individuals with the encouragement they needed to reclaim their lives. Before passing, Rolly celebrated 51 years of sobriety!
Rolly was preceded in death by his parents, brothers Phillip, Lyle, and Rolf, and two infant siblings. Rolly is survived by Peggy, four sons, Chad, Mark, Jesse, Elliot, 6 grandchildren and his sisters MarryAnn Traiser, Betty Chryst and Martha Bauer.
Graveside service will be held at the Eastside Cemetery, Midvale, Idaho, at 10:00 a.m. July 26th, with a Celebration of Life immediately after at the Midvale VFW Hall. All are welcome to attend.
