Lester Herr

Lester Herr, 102, of Bristol, peacefully passed away, February 5, 2025, at Sundial Manor Nursing Home in Bristol. 

Memorial services will be at 11:00 am Wednesday, February 12, 2025, at Fiksdal Funeral Service. Burial will be at a later date. 

Memorial visitation will be Tuesday, 5-7 pm at the funeral home. 

Condolences may be sent to Sun Dial Manor, Avera Hospice, or Prairie Mound Cemetery. 

Lester Emil Herr was born on June 3, 1922, to Emil and Augusta (Nolte) Herr in Day County, South Dakota. He was baptized and confirmed at Butler Lutheran Church in Butler. He attended school in Butler and graduated from Butler High School in 1940. After his education, he farmed the family farm alongside his father in Valley Township, west of Butler.

On June 18, 1944, he married Virginia Clausen at Butler. The couple made their home and farmed in the Butler area. To this union seven children were born, Shirley, Larry, Linda, Gloria, Gayle, Michael, and Kathryn. Lester faithfully worked the fields farming well into his 90’s. Virginia passed in 1990. Lester continued to live on the farm until 2015, when he moved to assisted living in Bristol.

Lester had a daily routine of coffee with his buddies at Bristol and Butler. He enjoyed woodworking and building things. He had an inventive mind, constructing parts for machinery when needed. He enjoyed his farm cats and just tinkering around the farm. Lester was very involved in the community. He was an avid cheerleader for all his grandchildren’s and great grandchildren’s extra-curricular activities. Lester was a lifelong member of Butler Lutheran Church where he served on the board. He also served on the following boards: Sun Dial Manor, Bristol School, Day County Museum, Day County Hospital, Valley Township, and Bristol Farmers Union. He was also instrumental in the formation of Sun Dial Manor. 

Above all else, Lester cherished time with his family. He will be greatly missed by his children, Shirley (Paul) Halvorsen of Webster, SD, Larry (Judy) Herr of Bristol, SD, Gloria (Morris) Forsting of Sioux Falls, SD, Gayle (Steve) Horter of Andover, SD, Michael (Tammie) Herr of Bristol, SD, and Kathryn (Shayne) Schmieg of Andover, SD, 16 grandchildren, 38 great grandchildren, and 5 great-great grandchildren with one on the way! He was preceded in death by his parents, wife Virginia, infant daughter Linda, grandsons Mark Halvorsen and Matthew Forsting, and sisters Edna Jensen, Eleanore Whitmyre, and Irene Whitmyre.