Babe Tislau

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Leonard "Babe" Tislau, 89, of Highmore, passed away, Monday, September 10, 2012 at Avera St. Luke's Hospital in Aberdeen.

Funeral services were held at 2:00 p.m., Friday, September 14, 2012 at the United Methodist Church, Highmore with Pastor Kori Lehrkamp officiating. Burial followed at the Highmore Cemetery.  Visitation was held from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m., Thursday, September 13, 2012 with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service, all at Luze Funeral Home, Highmore.

Leonard Richard (Babe) Tislau was born to Ludvig and Barbara (Fischer) Tislau on November 25, 1922 at Delmont, SD where he and his parents lived until the spring of 1927.  At that time they moved to a farm southeast of Highmore, SD.  They lived there for some time until they bought a farm seven and one-half miles south and one and one-half mile west of Highmore, SD.  He spent his time helping his parents’ farm and doing odd jobs for the neighbors.  Leonard loved to hunt, fish, and trap which he did when not working or going to school.

One windy day, he and his brother Louis were splitting firewood when Louis noticed a finger on the ground.  Babe said it wasn’t his, but then noticed one missing.  They went to the neighbor who took Babe to the doctor who sewed it up.

In 1946, Babe bought a farm six and one-half miles south and one mile east of Highmore where he lived alone until he married Nola Walker in 1951.  Together they raised four children: Bernice, Charlene, Richard and Barbara.  They farmed there until 1957 when he sold that farm and bought a farm one and one-half miles south of Highmore.  In 1963, he sold that farm and at this time, he bought a house in Highmore and went to work for the State Highway Department.  He worked for the state for 20 years before retiring.  He also did custom haying and worked for farmers.

Babe loved bowling which he did for many years.  He also was involved in trapshooting until the league broke up.  He loved to fish, especially walleyes, at West Bend.  He also loved to hunt and went on trips for moose, elk, and caribou, as well as deer, both east and west river.  He loved to upland hunt for grouse and pheasants and particularly geese.  When not hunting and fishing, Babe liked to play pinnacle with his friends.  He was a sportsman and a friend to anyone in need.

He will be missed by all.

Babe is survived by his three daughters: Bernice (Dale) Sonterre of Blaine, MN, Charlene (Gary) Payne of Vermillion, and Barbara (Dennis) Schaffer of Lewistown, MT; his brother: Leroy (Lorena) Tislau of Sheboygan, WI; his sister: Elda Olson of Pierre; seven grandchildren: Kathy Curley, Shelly (Randy) Chesley, Jason (Lynette) Payne, Sonia Cutting (special friend, Chuck), Cecilee (Javier) Roman, Daniel Tislau, and Brent (Ginny) Tislau; 12 great grandchildren: Celeste, Bobby and Shannon Curley, Allen and Anthony Payne, Nathan, Gage and Mason Cutting, Jonathan and Liliana Roman, and Briona and Gabe Tislau and one great-great grandchild, Maeson Curley.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Ludvig and Barbara; brothers: Louis and Emil; and a son: Richard.

In lieu flowers, memorials can be directed to Steps for Hope, PO Box 541, Highmore, SD 57345.

Luze Funeral Home of Highmore has been entrusted with Babe's arrangements.