Richard Mentzel, age 89, of Huron, died Thursday, December 29, 2016, at the Huron Regional Medical Center. His funeral service was held at 10:30 AM, Saturday, January 7th, at the First United Methodist Church. Burial was in the Restlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery with military honors by the Huron Veterans Council.
Richard James Mentzel was born November 23, 1927, to Richard John and Grace (Ely) Mentzel in Custer Township near Huron, South Dakota. He was baptized April 20, 1928, and confirmed in the First United Methodist Church where he was a life member. He attended grade school in the Timm School and the 22nd Street (now 21st) schools and graduated from Huron High School in 1945. He attended South Dakota State Agricultural College in Brookings from January through March 1949. Richard served during the Korean conflict from 1951 to 1953, first being stationed at Ft. Hood, Texas. Then with the 82nd Automatic Weapons Battalion, serving in Korea from September 1952 to February 1953. He was awarded the commemorative pin on the 50th anniversary of the Korean War in September 2000 in Aberdeen, The Republic of Korea War Service medal in January 2001 in Huron and the Korean Government medal on January 12, 2016, in Pierre.
Richard married Alice Marie Stegeman of Wolsey, South Dakota, on October 26, 1968, in Huron and has lived on the same farm his entire life. He served on the Custer township board for 18 years, 1966 to 1984.
He continued operating his John Deere 4020 until September at 88 years old. If there were tree branches that needed to be hauled away, you can guarantee that he would be on that tractor. If garden produce was ready, he would have a shovel in hand. If there were nails that needed to be removed from boards, his hammer was in grip. The state fair was also a much anticipated event. When tree seedlings needed to be watered, Richard was there at the well. With the cattle yards no longer being utilized, he removed the majority of the enclosures just within the past few years. If there were weeds or thistles growing in the garden, the hoe was swinging away and when he stopped to rest you can bet, the farm cats and dog would be by his side.
Richard farmed together with his brother, Harlan all their lives. His love of working the land combined with livestock production was visibly apparent in his work principles. His father established a foundation of instilling honest work ethics and Richard followed those standards. When fundamental devotion and earnestness are cultivated with love, families flourish.
He was preceded in death by his father in 1982; mother in 1993; sister, Betty Trecek of Omaha in 2012; and brother, Harlan in October 2015.
He is survived by his wife Alice M. of 47 years; two sons, James of Huron and Gary of Mitchell (Katherine Elizabeth McGraw); three granddaughters, Alexis, Mckenna and Marinna; sister-in-law, Alice E. Mentzel of Huron; and numerous nephews and nieces.