Paul Schlechter

Paul John Schlechter, 89, of Polo, passed away peacefully in his sleep Thursday, November 19, 2020 at the Faulkton Healthcare Center in Faulkton.

Funeral mass will be 10:30 a.m., Wednesday, November 25, 2020 at St. Liborius Catholic Church, Polo with Father Christopher Hughes, celebrant.  Burial with military honors will follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery, Polo.

Paul (Bart) Schlechter was born July 20, 1931 to Conrad T. and Mary K. (Venjohn) Schlechter at the family home.  He attended St. Liborius Catholic Elementary School and graduated in 1949 from Fairview High School in Polo, SD and was the only boy in that class.  After high school, he joined the army and served in the Korean War as a mechanic. After returning from the war, Bart played amateur baseball in Polo and shot trap in the Polo Legion league.

Bart farmed his entire life. Growing up on the family farm, Bart loved raising cattle, hogs and crops alongside his father and brothers. Being a bachelor, over the years, Bart enjoyed many big hunting and fishing trips with buddies to Colorado, Montana, Canada, and the river. In 1959, Bart and his brother Lornie formed a partnership to take over the farm from their father. They bought the Xavier and Katie Schlechter place and built a dairy barn where they milked cows for 35 years.

Bart was very active in his community. Some of the groups he was involved in were St. Liborius Parish Council, Polo American Legion, Catholic Order of Foersters, National Farmers Organization, and a proud member of the National Rifle Association. Bart was instrumental in starting the Polo volunteer fire department and served as chief for many years.

Bart was a second father to his nieces and nephews. He treated them like they were his own and when they had children, they too were his grandchildren.

Bart and Lornie had a wonderful partnership, but who would have thought at age 60, he would find another partner in Pearl. He married Pearl (Gortmaker) Adkins on May 11, 1991 and made their home west of Polo on the home place. From the day they were married, they were never seen without each other. They enjoyed camping and fishing at South Witlock, gardening and visiting with family, friends, and neighbors. If Bart was fixing a fence, Pearl was handing him the tools. If Bart was hauling hay, Pearl was backing him in and sending him off. Bart also became Pearl’s right-hand-man in her woodworking shop. They had everything rigged “just right” to make Pearl an efficient woodworker. In later years when Pearl did more quilting than woodworking, Bart was there to cut pieces and tie quilts. Truly a match made in heaven.

Bart also became the “little yellow school bus” for his great nieces and nephews. He would go back and forth down highway 26 to pick them all up and drop them off at the Polo School. They were always ready with snacks and a little homework help after school as well. A much-appreciated gesture by their working parents.

In his final years on the farm, you would find him checking hot wires on his Ranger and mowing the ditches along highway 26.

Bart will be dearly missed by his wife, Pearl; step children: Terri and son Levi (Caitie, Tabor, Kora), Christine (Mark Wehde) Tate, Alec, Brian (Becky) Tommy, Justin, Ashley, Garrett, and grandson, Jordan and LaMont Adkins; nieces and nephews: Richard Schlechter, Terry (Mary) Schlechter, Alan (Tara) Schlechter, Chad (Trixie) Schlechter, Julie (Brian) Flanagan, Andy (Deidra) Schlechter, Doris (Randy) Juhnke, Mike Schlechter, Ted (JoEllen) Schlechter, Mary (Kevin) Neuhauser, Jean (Kevin) Engen, Carol (Mike) Goodrich, Rob (Sheila) Schlechter, Cindy (Gaylon) Gerber, Kathy (Jeff ) Schulz; many great nieces and nephews; and great-great nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Maurice and Lawrence; step grandson, Darian; niece, Jennifer Schlechter; and great-niece, Sophia Schlechter.

Luce Funeral Home of Faulkton has been entrusted with Bart's arrangements.