Harlan Mentzel, age 82, of Huron, died Tuesday, October 6, 2015, at the Violet Tschetter Memorial Home. Burial was at 12:30 PM Friday, October 9th, in Restlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery with military rites by the Huron Veterans Council. His funeral service was held at 1:30 PM Friday at First United Methodist Church with Rev. Derek Baum, officiating. The Mentzel Family request memorials be made to a charity of one's choice.
Harlan Delwin Mentzel was born August 24, 1933, in Huron to Richard J. and Grace (Ely) Mentzel. He attended the Twenty-Second Street School, now Calvary Baptist Church on 21st Street, through the eighth grade.After graduating from Huron High School in 1951, he farmed south of Huron on the family farm until he was drafted into the US Army. He entered the Army on November 9, 1953, and was stationed at Ft. Riley, Kansas and then at Stuttgart, Germany. He was honorably discharged on October 26, 1955 as a sergeant. Harlan served in the Army Reserve and attended Ag classes through the GI Bill.
On May 13, 1962, he married Alice E. Reilly at the First United Methodist Church in Huron.They bought a farm northwest of Huron where he lived until entering Violet Tschetter Memorial Home on July 20, 2015.He and Alice worked together raising crops and cattle until 2014.
Harlan was a life-long member of the First United Methodist Church in Huron where he served on many committees and ushered. He also served as treasurer of Theresa Township for 43 years. Harlan had donated over twelve gallons of blood at the Huron Regional Medical Center Blood Bank.
Harlan took great pride in his cattle, and also liked to bring home that "special rock". He could identify most birds and enjoyed having them answer his mimic.
He is survived by his wife, Alice, of 53 years; his children, Lori Mentzel of Sioux Falls, Steven Mentzel of Huron and Brian Mentzel of Aurora, Colorado; his brother, Richard (Alice) Mentzel of Huron; one niece and two nephews; and his in-laws, Don Reilly, Adaline Reilly, Judi Reilly, George Tapken and Helen Jager.
He was preceded in death by his daughter, Lisa, in 1967; his parents; his sister, Betty Trecek and her husband Richard; his niece, Linda Trecek Nielsen; and his in-laws, Richard Reilly, Robert Reilly, Jean Tapken, Nadine Reilly and Art Jager.