Obituary
Louis Merkel, 88, of Hot Springs, SD, died at the Michael J. Fitzmaurice State Veterans Home in Hot Springs in the evening on March 1st.
Louis was born on May 4, 1921, in Hazelton, ND to Jake and Emilia (Pitski) Merkel. The family moved to Bismarck where he attended school. Louis joined the US Army in 1942 and served as an interrogator due to his fluency in the German language. He married Carolyn (Lenling) Merkel in 1942 while stationed in Sandusky, Ohio. After his discharge due to war related injuries, they moved to Cheyenne, WY and later to Glencross, SD where he took up ranching and resided for many years. Following the death of his brother-in-law Donald Lorenzen , they raised and parented Arthur, Deborah, and Ronald Lorenzen. They later took in another young boy, Jerry Traversie, who lived with them for many years.
Louis loved ranching and was a leader in good land conservation. He took classes through South Dakota State University and worked extensively with South Dakota State University and the University of Nebraska on many research projects involving land conservation and animal husbandry. He served as the Dewey County Commissioner for many years and was active in establishing the TC&G rural water project for Dewey County.
Following his retirement from ranching in 1980, he married Martha Bader. They lived at Spenser, Salem, and Rapid City until he entered the veterans home in 1997, where he resided until his death.
Louis was a member of the DAV and VFW.
Survivors include two brothers, Herman and Arthur Merkel, both of Bismarck, ND, Carolyn Merkel of Glencross, Martha Schweitzer of Rapid City, Arthur Lorenzen and Deborah Fieler of Rapid City , Ron Lorenzen,of Yankton and Jerry Traversie of Tecoma, WA., and numerous nieces and nephews.
Louis was a fun loving and wonderful man who will be missed by all who knew him.
He was preceded in death by his parents Jake and Emilia, his sisters Emma Bakken and Sandy Thomason, four half brothers and four half sisters.
Memorial services will be held at 9:00 a.m., Friday, March 5, 2010 at the State Veterans Home in Hot Springs with Chaplain Loyd Nielson officiating.
Interment will be at 12:00 p.m., Friday, March 5, 2010 at the Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, SD.
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.
Louis was born on May 4, 1921, in Hazelton, ND to Jake and Emilia (Pitski) Merkel. The family moved to Bismarck where he attended school. Louis joined the US Army in 1942 and served as an interrogator due to his fluency in the German language. He married Carolyn (Lenling) Merkel in 1942 while stationed in Sandusky, Ohio. After his discharge due to war related injuries, they moved to Cheyenne, WY and later to Glencross, SD where he took up ranching and resided for many years. Following the death of his brother-in-law Donald Lorenzen , they raised and parented Arthur, Deborah, and Ronald Lorenzen. They later took in another young boy, Jerry Traversie, who lived with them for many years.
Louis loved ranching and was a leader in good land conservation. He took classes through South Dakota State University and worked extensively with South Dakota State University and the University of Nebraska on many research projects involving land conservation and animal husbandry. He served as the Dewey County Commissioner for many years and was active in establishing the TC&G rural water project for Dewey County.
Following his retirement from ranching in 1980, he married Martha Bader. They lived at Spenser, Salem, and Rapid City until he entered the veterans home in 1997, where he resided until his death.
Louis was a member of the DAV and VFW.
Survivors include two brothers, Herman and Arthur Merkel, both of Bismarck, ND, Carolyn Merkel of Glencross, Martha Schweitzer of Rapid City, Arthur Lorenzen and Deborah Fieler of Rapid City , Ron Lorenzen,of Yankton and Jerry Traversie of Tecoma, WA., and numerous nieces and nephews.
Louis was a fun loving and wonderful man who will be missed by all who knew him.
He was preceded in death by his parents Jake and Emilia, his sisters Emma Bakken and Sandy Thomason, four half brothers and four half sisters.
Memorial services will be held at 9:00 a.m., Friday, March 5, 2010 at the State Veterans Home in Hot Springs with Chaplain Loyd Nielson officiating.
Interment will be at 12:00 p.m., Friday, March 5, 2010 at the Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, SD.
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.
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