Lowell Prentice

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Lowell Prentice, 94, of Wessington, passed away Wednesday, June 22, 2016 at the Good Samaritan Society in Miller.

Funeral service was held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, June 27, 2016 at the First Presbyterian Church, Wessington with Brad Magness officiating.  Burial followed in the Wessington Cemetery with military honors.  Visitation was held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Sunday, June 26, 2016 with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service, all at Reck Funeral Home, Miller.

Arthur Lowell Prentice was born February 19, 1922, on a farm southwest of Wessington, SD, to Arthur Clarence and Clara (Syring) Prentice.  He attended Rowen country school and graduated from Wessington High School in the class of 1940.  He worked for area farmers until he went into the U.S. Army in 1942.  He married his neighbor, Mary Elizabeth Zerfoss, on May 9, 1943.

Lowell’s U.S. Army service during WWII took him to France and Germany where he served as a radioman in the infantry behind the front lines.  He was quietly proud of the medals he earned serving his county and was a member of the Wessington Legion for over 50 years.

When his military serviced ended in 1945, Lowell returned to Wessington and rented a farm.  His first year of farming was with a team of horses.  The next year he bought a John Deere tractor.  Lowell loved everything about his diversified farm operation: the animals, crops, and keeping up with the current farming methods.  In 1959 he bought his first farm, and moved ½ mile down the road to a house with running water; life was good.  In 1960 an accident riding a horse caused him to break his hip.  He was plagued with that bad hip for the next 54 years: five hip replacements operations plus one removal due to infection.  He was adept with crutches!

Lowell and Mary earned many awards for their farming operations: swine, soil conservation, and Simmental cattle.  In 1977 they retired from the farm and moved into Wessington.  That lasted about two years.  Then it was back and forth to the farm for the next 40 years.  He will be remembered for his tomato crop and fresh chicken egg sales.  In the 20 years from the 1990’s to 2000’s, Lowell could be seen pulling his fishing boat out to the river and back.  Many of us enjoyed the fresh walleye he kept bringing home.  He was proud of the fact his fish fillets didn’t have any bones left in them!  He also enjoyed his daily games of “pitch” and Saturday bingo.

Lowell was active in his community and church: Elder at First Presbyterian Church in Wessington, Legion treasurer for many years, Legion Commander, Wessington Masonic Lodge, and the Yel Duz Shrine as a member of the motor scooter parade group.  Community volunteer in building the Wessington gym and Legion hall.

Survivors include his children: Deanna (Norg) Sanderson of Aberdeen, Delton (Susan) Prentice of Wessington, and Glenda (Doug) DeVore of Aberdeen; grandchildren: Lori (Jim) Skibbie of Maple Grove, MN, Shawna Prentice of Hillsboro, OR, Dan (Lindsey) Prentice of Bakersfield, CA, Rick Prentice of Wessington, Hannah Prentice of Hood River, OR, Drew Prentice of Wessington, and David Prentice of Wessington; great grandchildren: Michael Munsen of Rapid City and Dylan Prentice of Bakersfield, CA; step grandchild: Kari DeVore of Sallisaw, OK; sister, Karen (Niel) Hinek of Sturgis; special nephew, Jerold (Joyce) Zerfoss of Wessington; and many other nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, AC and Clara Prentice; wife, Mary on September 21, 2000; three sisters: Jean Timmons, Venida Fritz, and Lois Stobbs; and one brother, Robert L. Prentice.

In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the First Presbyterian Church in Wessington or Watson-Krauter Post 110, American Legion in Wessington.

Cards can be mailed to the Family of Lowell Prentice, PO Box 96, Aberdeen, SD 57402-0096.