Donald Henry Richter

Donald Henry Richter, 96, of Chancellor, SD died on Thursday, February 3, 2011 at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls, SD. He was born on August 7, 1914 to Daniel and Wilhelmena "Minnie" (Kortemeyer) Richter. He attended school in Lennox until his sophomore year when he took over the operation of the family farm after his father's health declined. He married Elbertha Stratmeyer on June 3, 1941 at the II Reformed Church of Lennox. They were farming partners in the Lennox and Chancellor areas, and raised their children on the family farm, four miles north of Chancellor. They were very involved in the Chancellor Reformed Church and their children's schools. They retired in 1983 and moved into to their little green house in Chancellor. Elbertha moved to the Lennox Good Samaritan Center in November, 2008 and Donald joined her in January, 2011 Donald was a devoted husband and father, helpful neighbor, and loyal friend to all he met. He was a kind, gentle man who loved nature and the land. His favorite vacation spots were the Badlands and Black Hills of South Dakota. Donald was an industrious, inventive farmer who took great pride in the neat appearance of his farm. He had a dry sense of humor and an infectious laugh. Donald was preceded in death by his parents, sister, Myrtle Roskens and daughter-in-law, Linda (Bingner) Richter. He is survived by his wife of 69 years, one son David (Linda Javers) Richter of Lennox, two daughters: Kaye (Greg) LaFollette and Donnel (Cal) Wheeler, both of Sioux Falls; sister, Dorothea Kock, Lennox; seven grandchildren: Jon Richter (special friend Kim Robinson) and Brian (Sandy) Richter, Lennox, Heather Allmendinger, Tim Allmendinger and Clint Wheeler, Sioux Falls, Amanda LaFollette (Kevin) Blackman, New York City, and Susan (Alan) Poupore, Byron Center, MI; seven great-grandchildren: Riley and Jayden Allmendinger, Austin and Lydia Richter, Jessica VandenBosch and Annalise and Zachary Poupore. Services will begin at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, February 9, 2011 at the Chancellor Reformed Church, Chancellor SD with burial in the Chancellor Reformed Cemetery. Visitation will begin at 3:00 p.m. Tuesday at Dindot-Klusmann Funeral Home, Lennox, SD with the family present from 7 to 8 p.m.

Donald Henry Richter

August 7, 1914 - February 3, 2011

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