Walter A. Hammer, age 91, of Palisade, Colorado and formerly of Huron, passed away on Tuesday, July 21, 2026, at the Intermountain Health St. Mary’s Regional Medical Center in Grand Junction, CO.

His memorial service will be held at 11:00 AM, Thursday, August 13, at the American Lutheran Church with burial in the Restlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery.

His visitation with family present will be held one hour prior to the service at the church on Thursday, August 13.

Walter A. Hammer was born May 8, 1935, in Nunda, South Dakota, to Adolph L. and Agnes (Brevik) Hammer. He grew up and attended school in various locations in eastern South Dakota. He married Betty Knutz in Huron in 1957, and they were later divorced. He served in the United States Army from 1958 – 1960, spending eighteen months in Germany as a supply clerk and a truck driver (for the base commander). A highlight of his service was meeting Elvis Presley, who was stationed nearby.

After his honorable discharge from the service, he returned to Huron and worked for Armour and Company for twenty-six years. He then worked for the SD State Highway Department as a senior maintenance worker. Walt retired in 1996.

Walt married Millie Erickson in 1990 in Huron. Millie passed away in 2019.

He and Shirley Skinner committed their lives to each other on July 3, 2022, in Colorado and he relocated from Huron to Palisade, Colorado, where he and Shirley reside during the summer months. They spend the winter months as “snowbirds” in Casa Grande, Arizona.

His hobbies included fishing, camping, woodworking and refinishing furniture, as well as vegetable gardening. Walt especially enjoyed playing cards and board games and had a reputation as a sharp and honest player. He and Shirley loved traveling and having new adventures. He was a member of the VFW and the American Lutheran Church in Huron.

Grateful for having shared in Walt’s life are his wife, Shirley of Palisade, CO; three children, Karen (Gary) Seeman of Rochester, MN, Kevin (Colette) Hammer of Lumberton, NC and Debra (Dave) Wilson, of Bartlesville, OK; six grandchildren, Christopher (Barbie) and Adam (Jamie) Seeman, Mary (Marcial) Guevara, Abby (Chase) Davis, Wesley (Ambria) Hammer and Max Wilson; eleven great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; one brother, Everett Hammer; two sisters, Janice Peterson and Deloris Gunderson; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his step-mother, Lisa Hammer; his wife, Millie; and eight brothers and sisters.