Leonard Fawcett

Leonard Fawcett, 83, of Ree Heights, died Thursday, September 6, 2012 at his home in rural Ree Heights. Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. Monday, September 10 at the United Methodist Church in Miller with Rev. Mark Johnsen officiating. Visitation will be Sunday, September 9 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. prayer service all at the United Methodist Church in Miller. Inurnment will be at Morningside Cemetery in Ree Heights at a later date.

Leonard Fawcett, 83, was born on November 19, 1928 in Hand County, SD to Koran and Melita (Hasart) Fawcett. He was baptized and confirmed in the rural Cedar U.C.C. Church south of Ree Heights. After the death of his mother in 1933, Leonard and his sister Leona were raised by his father with the assistance of many aunts and housekeepers. Leonard attended Spring Hill School through the ninth grade and graduated from Ree Heights High School in 1948. Following high school, Leonard married Dorothy Speirs on August 8, 1928. They began their 64 years together in a homestead house on the ranch ten miles south of Ree Heights. Leonard and Dorothy were blessed with four children-Rebecca, Sandra, Edwin, and Dennis.

Leonard was active in the Beef Improvement Association serving as president and was instrumental in getting the green tag program going. He was a former president of the South Dakota Beef Council which held meetings at SDSU Beef Bowl.

Leonard served as a South Dakota Beef Industry Council chairman and was a director with the United States Meat Export Federation. He was an active member of the South Dakota Stock Growers Association and the Hand County Livestock Improvement Association. As a member of the South Dakota Cattlemans? Association he was awarded the 1984 Commercial Producer of the Year.

Following his father?s footsteps he was awarded the Hand County Livestock Producer of the Year in 1972. The same award was later given to his son, Dennis, making them the first 3 generation family to receive the honor.
In 1980, Leonard was one of the few South Dakota producers to sell Hereford heifers to Chile. He was a Federal Land Bank director and an Archer Oil Dealer. He also served on various Republican committees.

Leonard was a 4-H leader and enjoyed many 4-H activities including showing calves with his children and grandchildren at the State Fair, Western Junior, and the Kansas City Stock Show. Another highlight of his 4-H career was being one of the first Denver Stock Show trip winners with Wally Johnson. His children Sandy and Dennis, and grandchildren Beth, Jay and Charles were also Denver Stock Show trip winners.

Leonard made many lifelong friends and memories as a member of the South Dakota Flying Farmers. He thoroughly enjoyed flying to check cattle and attending meetings around SD and surrounding states.

He and Dorothy became members of Methodist Church in Miller after Cedar Church closed. He was a chairman of the church board and has served as a lay leader of the church.

He served on township board as the chairman for many years; and served on the Ree Heights cemetery board.

During his life, Leonard enjoyed hunting, boating, and traveling, but above all he loved spending time with his family. He was a loving husband, father, grandfather, uncle, cousin, and good neighbor who will be dearly missed.

Grateful for having shared his life are his family members. He is survived by his wife Dorothy and their children: Rebecca Fawcett Monroe and her husband Joe, Great Falls, MT; Sandra Fawcett Entringer and her husband Steve, Corsica SD; Ed Fawcett and his wife Linda, Bryant SD; and Dennis Fawcett and his wife Connie, Ree Heights SD. Nine grandchildren: Joe (Sheena) Monroe, Valier, MT, Heather (Lance) Stokes, Conrad, MT, Josh Entringer, Jeff (Alicia) Entringer, Madison SD, Jeremiah Fawcett, Pierre SD, Miriah (David) Fawcett Hicks, Twin Brooks, SD, Luke Fawcett, Watertown SD, Beth Fawcett, Miller SD, Charles (Kayla) Fawcett, Ree Heights, SD, and 13 great grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents, his sister Leona Engelmann, an infant baby brother, and grandson Jay Fawcett.