Harold "Hal" Bisch, age 91, of Sioux Falls and formerly of Huron, died Wednesday, November 22, 2017, at his residence. His funeral mass was held at 11:00 AM, Wednesday, November 29th at Holy Trinity Catholic Church. Burial was in the Restlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery with military rites by the Huron Veterans Council.
Harold Joseph Bisch was born June 8, 1926, at Mankato, Minnesota, to John and Helena (Pieper) Bisch. On June 20, 1926, he was baptized at the Church of Immaculate Conception in Marysburg, Minnesota. Hal graduated from Cleveland Consolidated School at Cleveland, Minnesota.
On December 4, 1944, Hal enlisted in the US Army Air Corps at Keesler Field, Mississippi. During World War II, Hal served as an aerial gunner on a B-29 Flight Crew. After the war he spent several months as an ambulance driver at March Field, California to complete his military service. He was honorably discharged on July 1946 at Camp Beale, California. After the military, Hal returned to Minnesota to earn a BS degree from Mankato State Teachers College.
Hal met Betty Gannon at Thomas Walgreens where they both worked while in college. He married Betty on October 14, 1950, at Cleveland, Minnesota.
Hal was offered a job with a local Sears Store that sold "David Bradley" farm equipment. He moved to Decorah, Iowa and after four years, he was transferred to Bozeman, Montana, where he opened a catalog store. After six months, he was promoted as regional manager for all the Montana catalog stores plus the Bozeman Sears store. Hal managed the Sears northwestern retail stores which included over 50 stores from Michigan to Montana. He later managed the Fargo Sears store for four years, the Aberdeen store and then the Sears store at Spring Valley, Minnesota. From 1965 to 1982, he was the store manager for the Sears store in Huron. After Hal's retirement, he served as the Executive Director of the Huron Area Chamber of Commerce for 4 years and the Executive Director of Greater Huron Development Corporation.
Hal earned the Heroes in the Fight award by the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill. For over 30 years he was a dedicated volunteer in Huron. He worked for 15 years with NAMI-South Dakota Board of Directors, which helped parents and siblings who have a family member with severe and persistent mental illness. He served on the Community Counseling Services Board of Directors for 12 years and for 11 years on Holy Trinity Catholic Church Health Cabinet. Hal also served on the Huron College Board of Directors, the Huron Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee, and for 18 years on the South Dakota Retailers Association Board of Directors.
Hal was a member of the American Legion, the Knights of Columbus, and was a member of the Kiwanis Club for more than 40 years. Hal enjoyed pheasant hunting and ballroom dancing. He was also an airplane pilot and enjoyed traveling on plane and bus trips.
Grateful to have shared in his life are his five children, Faye Bisch, of Durango, Colorado, Patricia B. Green of Houston, Texas, Joan (Kirk) Juhl of Crooks, Jon Bisch of Huron, and Sharon "Shar" (Mike) Wever of Gold Canyon, Arizona; eight grandchildren, Quinn Harris, Elizabeth and Addison Green, Shannan (Andy) Burns, Alan, Tony, Mark and David Wever; five great-grandchildren, Dristen Heeren, Cadance Heeren, Tayne Heeren, Olivia Heeren and Izel Harris. Hal is also survived by two brothers, Lawrence J. Bisch of St. Paul, Minnesota and Allie H. Bisch of Mankato, Minnesota; and one sister, Mary (Earl) Hoppe of Deer Lodge, Montana.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Betty Bisch on November 22, 2009; one son, Stephen who died at the age of ten months; two great-granddaughters, Hope and Faith; two brothers, Robert Bisch and Stanley M. Bisch; and one sister, Loretta (Robert) Curan.