Warren Porter
September 11, 1923 ~ July 20, 2011
Warren E. Porter, 87, of Highmore, passed away Wednesday, July 20, 2011 at his home.
Funeral services were held at 10:30 a.m., Monday, July 25, 2011 at Our Savior Lutheran Church, Highmore with Pastor David Peterson officiating. Burial followed at the Highmore Cemetery with military honors. A prayer service was held at 7:00 p.m., Sunday, July 24, 2011 at the church.
Warren Eugene Porter was born September 11, 1923 southeast of Alva, Oklahoma in Woods County to Lloyd and Gertrude (Graham) Porter.
Warren grew up south of Hopeton, Oklahoma and attended a one room school, graduating from Horace Mann High School in Alva, Oklahoma in 1941. In February of 1943 he entered the Army Air Corps and received his discharge in February of 1946. The following September, he began teaching school in Oklahoma. In 1949, he moved to South Dakota where he continued teaching, beginning in country schools and ending up in the public school in Highmore. His favorite grades and subjects to teach were 5th and 6th grade science and math. He received his BA degree from Dakota Wesleyan University. In 2010 on Veteran’s Day, Warren took part in the Honor Flight to Washington, D.C.
Warren was united in marriage to Meta Knittel on April 16, 1950. To this union two children were born: Katherine and Stephen. Meta preceded him in death on March 4, 1999.
While Warren was teaching, Meta was doing the farming. They worked hard together to build up their farming operation. After 20 years of teaching, Warren quit to devote more of his time to farming. For a few years, the whole family went down south to do some custom harvesting before their own crops were ready to harvest. His favorite job to do on the farm was combining. We are sure that it is harvest time in heaven now.
Warren thoroughly enjoyed being with his three grandsons and having them around. He was also very proud to have been a part of the original board of directors for Mid-Dakota for 17 years, beginning December of 1988 and ending his involvement in December of 2005. Warren was also a member of the Our Savior Lutheran Church.
Grateful to have shared in his life was his daughter, Katherine (David) Hieb and grandsons Kyle, Kurt, Kade of Highmore; son, Stephen (Teri) Porter of Highmore; sister, Patricia (George) Conder of Alva, Oklahoma; brother-in-law, Alfred (Joyce) Knittel of Huntsville, Alabama; sister-in-law, Gertrude (Elwood) Hirsch of Forks, Washington; first cousins: Robert (Shirley) Porter of Natchez, Louisiana, Molly (David) Porter-Pruski of San Antonia, Texas, Phyllis Goss of Pratt, Kansas; and second cousin: Bill (Fern) Porter of Spearman, Texas.
He was preceded in death by his parents and wife, Meta.
Luze Funeral Home of Higmore has been entrusted with Warren's arrangements.
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Kathy, Steve, and families…so sorry to hear about Warren. You are all in our prayers. God bless.
Roger and Family
Our hearts go out to you. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Gordon and Cynthia Sampson
I am so sorry to hear about your dad and grandpa. He was one of my 5th-6th grade teachers and always held a special place in my heart as such a kind man. Fortunately I was able to see him quite often at church when I would be in Highmore on weekends and that was always a treat. I always called him Mr. Porter and he reminded me several times that I didn’t have to call him that anymore… You are all in my prayers for comfort and strength as I know you will miss him greatly. I am going to miss him too.
Katherine and family, we are so sorry to hear about your dad. I will always remember his kind words and interest in the music I played in church. Our thoughts and prayers are with you.
Rob, Dana, and Murphy Lewis
Katherine and family: I was sorry to read of the loss of your father. May the memories you have help during this sad time and may it help to know he and your mother are united once again. Please accept my sympathy.
Kathrine,David, Kurt, Kyle and Kade- I’m so sorry to hear about your loss. Warren was a great man and will be missed dearly. I will never forget his hugs and his smile. Thoughts and prayers to you all during this difficult time.
Kathy and family, what a wonderful man yourDad was. Hold those good memories in your heart and let them bring you peace in the days to come. You will be in my prayers. Jenise
So sorry to hear about your dad.Been thinking about you alot. Our thoughts and prayers are with you all.
you are all in our thoughts and prayers at this difficult time and we are very sorry to hear of your loss. he was a great man and will be missed by all–let us know if you need anything and again we are very sorry for your loss
bill and linda whipple
My prayers and thoughts are with you during this difficult time. He was my teacher in 5th and 6th grade and was always very special. I will always remember his hugs whenever I would see him.
He will truly be missed.
Our thoughts and prayers go out to all of you during this time of losing your dad and grandfather. May God’s presence give you peace.
Terry & Paula Spilde
So sorry to hear of Warren’s passing. He was very dedicated to seeing the completion of the Mid-Dakota project. It was a pleasure and a privilege to get to know him and work with him. His family can be very proud of his work to make life better for others. He will be truly missed.
Sorry to hear about your loss of Dad and Grandpa.
Jim & Shirley D
I considered it an honor to serve by Warren’s side on the Mid Dakota board and move the project forward through all of the obstacles we faced.
Buzz Kutzler
I knew Warren when I worked as engineer on the Mid Dakota Rural Water System. He was great Board Member and wonderful man.
Katherine, Steven and Famlies, We are so sorry to hear of Uncle Warren’s passing. We are so glad he made the trip to stay with us in Minneapolis for a week. We had so much fun and good memories of his visit. We are so sorry that we could not get it worked out to make it back for the services. Louie was so honored to be asked to be a pallbearer and was disappointed that he could not make it. Love to you all.
I am so saddened to hear of the passing of your father. My thoughts and prayers are with you at this time.