Lamere Thomas Nekuda was called home to spend eternity with the Lord our God and Savior on Sunday, September 27, 2009, at Rapid City Regional Hospital. Lamere was born on August 2, 1915 outside of Sargent, Nebraska in a sod house. His aunts acted as midwives for his mother. His parents were Fred Nekuda and Tillie (Cadek) Nekuda. He was raised on a farm and was quick all the aspects of farming. He also picked up the art of blacksmithing as his father had the trade of local blacksmith.

Lamere graduated for Sargent High School in 1934. He farmed with his family and worked many jobs until duty called because of World War II at which time he became an infantry soldier. An army officer observed that he was very quick with mathematical figures and helped him transfer to the Army Corp of Engineers. He spent many months in the South Pacific building airstrips. He was in Saipan when the first B-29's landed and was on one of these islands when the Enola Gay landed there.

Lamere was on leave in May of 1943, when he married Claire Dlugosh, his wife of 66 years, in Pittsburg, California. He was again on leave when Japan surrendered in 1945.

After the war, he worked in Omaha, Nebraska and took college courses at Boyle College. He later worked in Cheyenne, Wyoming for the Union Pacific Railroad as a telegrapher. In 1952 he moved his family back to his father's farm near Sargent, Nebraska. In 1956 he drew a unit on the Angostura project where he and his family moved once again.

He was a wonderful farmer as farming and cattle were in his blood. He spent many hours in his cherished garden. Lamere was a member of the Knights of Columbus and a lifetime member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He also believed in and promoted the National Farmers Organization.

Lamere was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, and three sisters. He is survived by his loving wife, Claire Nekuda; sons, Thomas (Joan) Nekuda, Garden City, KS; James (Vickie) Nekuda, Hot Springs, SD; and Charles Nekuda, Rapid City, SD; brother, Robert Nekuda of Port Angeles, WA; eight grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren.

Wake services will be held 7:00 p.m., Thursday, October 1, 2009, at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Hot Springs.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held 9:00 a.m., Friday, October 2, 2009 at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church in Hot Springs with Fr. Peter Kovarik officiating. Interment will be held 1:30 p.m. at the Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.

Pallbearers will be his grandchildren: Joseph Nekuda, Jennifer Nekuda-Malek, Jessica Nekuda, Mary Anne Nekuda, Matthew Graf, Paul Graf, Michael Nekuda, and Autumn Nekuda.

Arrangements have been placed in the care of McColley's Chapel of the Hills in Hot Springs. Written condolences can be made at www.mccolleyschapels.com.