Leonard Bettcher, 94, of Winner, SD passed away with family by his side on June 21, 2019 at Avera Majestic Bluffs Care Center in Yankton, SD.
The funeral was held on Friday, June 28, 2019 at 9 a.m. at Trinity Lutheran Church in Winner, SD. Burial followed at the Black Hills National Cemetery, located east of Sturgis, SD, at 2:30 p.m. (MT).
Leonard was born on Jan. 20, 1925 to August and Christina Bettcher. He was the 6th born out of 7 children in a wagon on the way to the doctor’s office in Carter, SD. He attended The South Crystal Springs school south of Carter.
At the age of 11, in 1936, the family moved to the Dallas area, where he finished grade school. He ended up receiving his diploma from Gregory High School.
In 1950, moved to a farm with two of his brothers, Richard and Verloyn, and parents, which was located half a mile north of Jordan Corner. His brother Richard and Leonard engaged in farming together at this time.
Around 1955, he attended school in Pueblo, Colo., to learn telegraphy and the morse code. Then, went to Iowa and worked for the railroad as a telegrapher for a short time. He loved to hear train whistles blow.
In 1958-59, he worked for the Winner Police Force as a police officer. Also, in 1960-61, he worked with the Winner Post Office as a mail carrier but due to his military injury was unable to stay with this position. While pursuing these other occupations, he still continued to farm with his brother, Richard, and retired from farming in the early 1980s.
He married Ruby (Van Matre) Heinzman July 3, 1965. To this union, two children were born, Leon and Michelle, three step-children Roger, Michael, and Denise. They lived on a farm ½ mile north of Jordan Corner and later two miles west of Winner. Divorced in June 1977.
Leonard was a proud member of WWII and was part of Co B 72 Military Police Co. At the age of 17, he was drafted and entered into the service at Fort Snelling, MN on July 27, 1944.
To start his journey, Allen, his brother, drove him to the railroad depot in Gregory, SD where they said their goodbyes. He was well on his way to the service at Fort Snelling, MN where he picked up his military belongings.
Later, boarded a train and headed to Campwalders, TX where he completed seventeen weeks of basic training. Then, shipped overseas to EIO Eastern Theater Marse France. From there, right straight to the frontline.
While fighting up at the frontline, motor shells were coming in and upon these exploding, shrapnel hit his left foot, which caused him to fall down. As he was being taken away on a stretcher, more shells came in, blowing the stretcher and him off the jeep and knocking him out, later waking up at the Aide Station.
After being treated at the Aide Station, he was put on an ambulance and taken to the 403rd hospital, where quite a bit of time was spent, later returning home.
He was honorably discharged June 22, 1946 at Camp McCoy, Wis. and is a recipient of the Purple Heart, Army of Occupation Ribbon (Germany), Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Theatre Service Medal, and Bronze Star Medal.
He often told his family about his time fighting in WWII. This particular memory was very meaningful to him. When fighting at the frontline, he opened up a small Bible that was given to the soldiers. When this Bible was opened, it was opened to Psalm 23.
As he described as the darkest of nights, a light shined down upon this Bible, making it possible for him to read this Psalm and giving him comfort.
God was a very important part of his life.
Leonard was a big influence on his children and grand-children, as he always encouraged them to be in God’s word and go to church.
He was a lifetime member of the American Legion and VFW and also enjoyed helping serve lunch at the American Legion on Labor Day in Winner.
He had a love for gardening and had a garden every year, until age 91. Local farmers would stop by and enjoy fruits and vegetables out of his garden.
Every year, Leonard would put up many jars of canned pickles using his own recipe. His family and Leonard always enjoyed this time of the year as they got to enjoy buttered bread with a pickle inside, so good! He was proud of his pickles and shared many with friends and family.
Some of the things Leonard loved were: attending church on Sunday, taking drives, vacationing (favorite spot being Mount Rushmore and seeing the faces), the state of Arizona and always wanting to reside there, coloring Easter eggs and never felt too old for this, eat out, go for coffee, sit outside under the shade tree and eat muskmelon and watermelon, flying the American flag on the farm, picnicking at the Valentine City Park, parades, camping, fishing and lending a helping hand.
Leonard enjoyed spending time with his children, grand-daughters (he was always so proud of all their accomplishments) and a very special companion, Princess (his dog).
Leonard is preceded in death by his parents August and Christina Bettcher; 2 sisters Ida (Frank) Vedral and Martha (Sam) Hauff; 3 brothers Allen (Ruth), Alfred (Frieda) and Richard (Teresa).
He is survived by his son Leon and daughter Michelle (David) Smith; 3 step-children Roger (Roxann) Heinzman, Michael (Anja) Heinzman, Denise (Jerry) Olson; brother Verolyn (Linda); 4 grandchildren MaCallie, Melissa, Shambraea, and Ally; 8 step-grandchildren Raelen, Randa Cheryl, Scott, Steven, Anna, Joshua and Justin; many nieces and nephews and lots of friends.
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