Richard Hempel

Richard P. Hempel, 92 of Lennox, SD, died Friday, June 21, 2019 at the Dougherty Hospice House, Sioux Falls, SD, following a lengthy illness. Richard Paul Hempel was born in Webster, SD, on December 7, 1926, the son of Alfred Paul and Gertrude (Trowbridge) Hempel. He grew up and attended school in Webster. In December of 1943 he entered the US Navy and served during WWII until his honorable discharge in 1947. He served in the SD Army National Guard in Webster from 1947 until 1950, when he reentered the US Navy in May of 1950 and served during the Korean War, until his honorable discharge in 1954. On June 8, 1958 he was united in marriage to Margaret Roth in Brookings, SD. The couple made their home in Lennox, SD. Richard served full time in the SD Air National Guard for 22 years as an aircraft technician from 1961 until retiring in 1983. After retirement Richard drove school bus for several years and devoted his time to community service. Richard was an active and faithful member of First English Lutheran Church, Lennox and had served on the church council. He also belonged to the Lennox Lions, where he received the Melvin Jones Fellowship award. He was a active Boy Scout leader who volunteered locally and with the Sioux Council regional office. He was awarded the Silver Beaver, which is the highest volunteer award given in the Boy Scout organization. Richard was a member of the Lennox Development Corporation, Lennox Senior Citizens, the Lennox Good Samaritan Advisory Board, the Lennox American Legion, the Sioux Falls VFW, the Lennox Cemetery Board, the Masons, the El Riad Shrine and Job's Daughters. He enjoyed woodworking and took great pride in the care of his lawn. Most of all, he cherished the time spent with his grandchildren and deeply loved his family. Besides his parents, Richard was preceded in death by an infant brother and two sisters: Gladys Gerriets and Margaret Hallstrom. Grateful for having shared his life are his wife of over 61 years, Margaret; two daughters: Tamara (Terry) Haan, Billings, MT and Gayle (Roger) Hanisch, Lennox; six grandchildren: Jennifer (Stephen) Paterson, Billings, MT, Jessica (Scott) Felchle, Laurel, MT, Andrew (Tara) Hanisch, Lennox, Jacqueline (Colin) Gerstner, Billings, MT, Jacob (Bethany) Haan, Laurel, MT, Alexander Hanisch, Clark, SD and Blake Campos, Billings, MT; 13 great-grandchildren: Elijah Gerstner, Joslynn Hanisch, Nathan Paterson, Luke Gerstner, Noah Felchle, Isaac Gerstner, Hayes Hanisch, Hope Gerstner, Henry Haan, Gabriel Felchle, Allie Paterson, Liam Haan and Benjamin Felchle; siblings: Robert Hempel, Crooks, SD and David (Mary) Hempel, Webster, SD, as well as many nieces and nephews and a host of other family and friends. Services will begin at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, June 27 at First English Lutheran Church, Lennox with burial and military honors at the Lennox Cemetery. Visitation, also at First English Lutheran, with the family present, will be 5 to 7 p.m. Wednesday.

Richard Hempel

December 7, 1926 - June 21, 2019

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