Duane W. Bartelt

Duane W. Bartelt, 77 passed away, surrounded by family, on Sunday July 10, 2016 at Sanford Hospital, Webster after a courageous battle with cancer. His funeral will be at 2:00 P.M., Thursday, July 14, 2016 at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Waubay. Rev. James Wilshusen officiating. Burial will be in Lakewood Cemetery. Visitation will be at the funeral home on Wednesday 5-7 P.M. and one hour prior to services at the church on Thursday. Duane Walter Bartelt was born on Friday, June 9, 1939, to Emil and Elsie (Zubke) Bartelt at Peabody Memorial Hospital in Webster, SD. The family lived north of Waubay in Waubay Township, Day County, South Dakota. He was baptized and confirmed at Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Waubay. He attended Bartelt School District #118 country school near his home. After he received his education, he worked on the family farm and then began working road construction. He was united in marriage to Veronica Holman on November 26, 1960, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Waubay. After their marriage, he continued to work construction, and the couple and their children lived in several South Dakota communities, following Duane wherever he was stationed. When the children began school, the couple made their home in Waubay, where he started farming with his dad and brother, Earl. After the passing of his dad and brother, Duane took over the farm and farmed until recent months, when he had to retire because of his illness. Duane was an active member of his church and community. He was a member of Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church in Waubay, where he was a funeral usher and also served as an Elder for many years, even until his final days. He was also a member of the Waubay City Council and Zoning Board, Waubay Volunteer Fire Department, Waubay Farmers' Elevator Board, and Waubay School Board. As a member of the Waubay School Board, he was a strong advocate for a school approach from US Hwy 12. He was successful in his fight and for that, the road was named Bartelt Blvd. He loved dancing, western music, old western movies, watching Fox News, and having coffee with his "coffee crew". In the winter, he enjoyed blowing snow for people and having a cup of coffee with them afterwards. After a courageous battle with cancer, Duane passed away, surrounded by his loving family, in Webster, SD, on Sunday, July 10, 2016, at the age of 77 years, 1 month, and 1 day. Survivors include his wife, Veronica of Waubay; one son, Thomas Bartelt of Redfield, SD; three daughters, Jodi (Lonn) Berger and Vicki (Devlin) Benike both of Waubay, SD, and Monica (Gregg) Jorgenson of Brookings, SD; one brother, Harvey (Alyce) Bartelt of Waubay, SD; one sister, Arlene (Alex) Jordan of Watertown, SD; and six grandchildren, Jocelyn and Mason Berger, Korissa Jorgenson, Nathan, Lauren, and Eva Benike. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Earl.