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Funeral services will take place on Tuesday, October 3, 2017 at 11:00 AM (Mountain).

American Legion Hall
Philip, South Dakota

Masonic Cemetery
Philip, South Dakota
5-7 p.m. on Monday, October 2, 2017
American Legion Hall
Philip, South Dakota



Print Obituary

In memory of

Lenore Brucklacher

of Philip, South Dakota, died on Saturday, September 30, 2017 at the Hans P. Peterson Memorial Hospital in Philip at the age of 88

Lenore Marie Nelson was born on July 3, 1929 to Albert and Agnes (Hanson) Nelson in Garretson, SD. She was raised on the family farm northwest of Garretson. She was baptized and confirmed in the Beaver Valley Lutheran Church. After graduating high school in 1947, she attended Lutheran Bible Institute in Minnesota for two years.

“Al came to work for my brother Ralph on the farm a mile south of the homeplace where I lived. While we were there we did chores and field work together. There was even room on the “G” John Deere tractor seat for us to sit together. It was love at first sight and we enjoyed working together. Al and I were engaged in the fall of 1952. I went to see Al every week and watched him do his laundry and play football, mostly on the bench. When Al graduated from Augustana College, we were married the following month on June 26, 1953. Al continued working for Ralph the summer of 1953 until we went to the seminary. Our oldest son Mark was born on June 11, 1954. While attending Luther Theology Seminary, we lived a short distance from the seminary, taking care of a retired minister and his wife. We were paid $50 a month for room and board and this helped a lot to pay our way through seminary.

Our second son Paul was born on June 8, 1955, and our daughter Marie was born June 3, 1956 during our internship in Stanley, North Dakota, serving five Lutheran parishes. Upon completion of the internship, Al went back to seminary while I stayed in Ross. John, our fourth child was born on May 17, 1957. Al performed his first baptism, for his son John, at his ordination in his home church in Freeman, SD. We had four children age two and under for a time with no twins. Upon completion of Al’s ordination, we returned to Ross as a family, where Janis was born on August 19, 1959.

We moved to the Florence Lutheran Parish west of Watertown, which had four parishes. While serving these parishes, our family was made complete with the addition of our youngest boys. Perry on August 11, 1962 and Bruce on August 30, 1963. The family served there for seven years.

We moved on to Philip in 1967 to serve the First Lutheran Church. By this time the Brucklacher family had grown up and the oldest were high school aged. In 1972, we suffered a great loss when our son, Paul drowned at the Prairie Seed Bible Camp. In 1977, we purchased land and built our permanent home on a ranch near Philip.”

After Al’s passing in June 2014, Lenore continued her life on the ranch, spending her days enjoying the beautiful landscape and long hours on her riding lawn mower. A proud moment in her life was setting the shot put record in the 1995 SD Senior Olympics. In addition to a full life raising a large family and serving as a pastor’s wife, Lenore spent many years as a house painter passing her skills to many and building a successful Amway business. She also drove school bus and the Haakon County Prairie Transit later in life.

Lenore had many interests including: being a match maker, singing duets with Al, fixing lawn mowers, bowling, playing softball including during the Senior Olympics, helping with Bible studies, making Swedish lefse, tending livestock and enjoying the farm lifestyle. She loved being a sports spectator and was a vocal force at any game she attended or watched. She demonstrated an incredible work ethic and the joy of a long day of physical labor. This is the legacy she leaves for her children and grandchildren.
Lenore was a member of the United Church of Philip. She could be found weekly in the third pew from the front on the left side.

Grateful for having shared her life include four sons Mark (Carla) of Wall, John (Linda) of Windsor, Colorado, Perry of Philip, and Bruce (Brigitte) of Philip; two daughters Marie (Tom) Radway of Philip, and Janis (Mike) West of Colusa, California; 14 grandchildren Jennifer Tietsort (Ron) of Custer, Matthew Brucklacher (Sonja) of Greeley, Colorado, Marcy Morrison (William) of Rapid City, Cain Radway (Kristin) of Hinton, Iowa, Mindy Smith of Chadron, NE, Alex Radway (Jeni) of Rapid City, Ashley Harrison (Spencer) of Windsor, Colorado, Jesse Brucklacher, Amber Torres (Artie) of Colusa, California, Austin West (Rebecca) of Woodland, California, Adler West (Molly Critchfield) of Colusa, California, Derek Brucklacher (Brittanie Cox) of Philip, Skye Brucklacher (Beau Walker) of Philip , and Gavin Brucklacher of Spearfish; 18 great-grandchildren Noah and Hope Tietsort, Maylin and Alissa Brucklacher, T.J, Spencer and Luther Morrison, Julian Small and Rex Radway, Payton Schoenhals, Creighton Green, Adlee, Henli, and Aven Radway, Olivia, Jaxon, and Levi Harrison, and Alaina Torres; brother-in-law Ervin (Marlene) Brucklacher and sister-in-law Alice (Mac) Melin, and a host of other relatives and friends.

Lenore was preceded in death by her parents, her husband Al; a son Paul; a grandson Dalles Brucklacher in 2007; two brothers Ralph and Vernon Nelson; and one sister Edna Nelson.

Visitation will be held 5-7 p.m. on Monday, October 2, at the American Legion Hall in Philip.

Funeral services will be held 11:00 a.m. Tuesday, October 3, at the American Legion Hall in Philip, with Pastor Kathy Chesney officiating.

Private family interment will be at the Masonic Cemetery in Philip.

Cards and memorials may be sent to Marie Radway, P.O. Box 184, Philip, SD 57567.


Open the Memorial Folder

VISITATION
5-7 p.m.
Monday, October 2, 2017
American Legion Hall
Philip, South Dakota

FUNERAL SERVICES
Tuesday, October 3, 2017 - 11:00 a.m.
American Legion Hall
Philip, South Dakota
CLERGY
Pastor Kathy Chesney
MUSIC
Barb Bowen - Pianist
Cynthia Finn - Accompanist
Mike Seager - Guitarist
Vocal Duet
Deb Smith and Barb Bowen
“How Great Thou Art”
“He Lives”
Congregational Hymn
“Onward Christian Soldiers”
USHERS
Tom Finn - Jay Baxter
Ky Bowen - Roger Porch
PALLBEARERS
Lenore’s Grandsons
Matthew Brucklacher - Cain Radway
Alex Radway - Austin West - Adler West
Derek Brucklacher - Gavin Brucklacher
HONORARY PALLBEARERS
All Relatives and Friends in Attendance
PRIVATE FAMILY INTERMENT
Masonic Cemetery
Philip, South Dakota

  • My sympathy to your family as you celebrate your mother's life and ministry. ~ Rev. Darwin Kopfmann 25388 Knight Rd. - Custer, SD (10/10/2017)
  • Our thoughts and prayers to the family. Lenore came with Al when he was our pastor at Bigfoot church.

    Our thoughts and prayers for the family.     ~ Leslie and Catherine Williams Lincoln NE. (10/5/2017)
  • Oh my goodness am I going to miss my down-to-earth, direct Aunt Lenore. Just thinking of Lenore makes me smile. The attitude - 'we'll figure it out' and 'we could do that or fix that" was infectious. I am sure I am not the only one that enjoyed her outgoing personality.
    Lenore had lots of energy and lots of common sense. Boy am I going to miss her.
    Sincerely,
    Your niece Norene (Vernon's oldest daughter) who always appreciated all you did for everyone!     ~ Norene Nelson Zimmerman, MN (10/4/2017)
  • Our thoughts and prayers are with your family. We always enjoyed Lenore when she came with Pastor Al up to Marcus Church when he was our pastor. May she rest in peace. God Bless ~ Tucker and Bev Hudson Howes SD (10/4/2017)
  • Sending love and our prayers to the Brucklacher Family. ~ Krystl (Anderson) Vermundson Rapid City (10/4/2017)
  • My thoughts and prayers to Lenore's family. She was a lady who was always so full of energy, she kind of reminded a person of the Energizer bunny. Her smile and love for life will always be remembered by all who knew her. ~ Wendy Cook Rapid City, SD (10/4/2017)
  • I always enjoyed spending summers with grandma and grandpa at the ranch. Mowing lawns, playing by the creek and golf cart rides around the property. Grandma always made time for us and loved having conversations about the day. She always had a jar of cookies to share and I always found a smile on my face when I was around her or got a chance to talk with her on the phone. I love my grandma. She will be missed but never forgotten. ~ Austin West & Rebecca Changus Woodland, CA (10/4/2017)
  • Dear Brucklacher family, I have fond memories of Lenore and Al, growing up in Philip. they were a wonderful, cheerful couple. they are missed, but never forgotten. with Love, Christy ~ christina fonseca-graddy 18420 Guildberrty Drive, #103 Gaithersburg, MD (10/4/2017)
  • To all of Lenore's family, my sympathy as you journey on without her cheering you on. Thinking of she and Al re-united in heaven brings me Joy as I'm sure it does all of you. May their lives always bring Joy to you. ~ Mary Kay Sandal Plainview, SD (10/3/2017)
  • Our deepest sympathy Marie and family on your mother's passing. In our thoughts and prayers ~ Velva Retzlaff Newell SD (10/3/2017)
  • We met Lenore at weddings. The first time was her wedding to marry Mabel's nephew Alvin. The second time was our wedding when Alvin officiated it. We have been blessed with over 56 years of special memories of them. ~ Paul and Mabel Williams Superior, WI (10/3/2017)
  • sorry for the loss of a super woman....she will be missed by all...God bless you all ~ nancy neville philip,sd (10/2/2017)
  • Prayers for Leno's family and friends. An amazing family. ~ Donna Craven Rapid City, SD (10/2/2017)
  • I have fond memories of Al & Lenore and all their kids coming to visit our farm ( LaVerne & Bernice Brucklacher ) in the summer. Lenore would be the 1st one to get on a tractor and say " let's get with it!" She was so energetic and was a great leader. She was never afraid of hard work but instead welcomed it. Thank you, Lord for Lenore. You will be greatly missed! ~ David Brucklacher Longmont, Co (10/2/2017)
  • I have very fond memories of Lenore and her hospitality, especially for the VBS held out of the ranch. Both she and Al were a blessing to me during my time in Philip. May God give you strength and peace during this time. ~ Mark Ford (10/1/2017)
  • What great lady with unlimited talents and patience. What a rejoicing in Heaven. Much love and prayers to all Connie Lee ~ Connie Lee Midland, TX (10/1/2017)
  • So sorry for you loss. Sending prayers to the family. ~ Julie Moses Brown Nebraska (10/1/2017)
  • Sorry for your lost Lenore was quite a lady . I believe she probably has touched everyone she has ever met. It's an honor to have known her 🙏🙏🙏 ~ Bonnie Moses Nebraska (10/1/2017)
  • Dear Brucklacher Family
    Lenore was a wonderful lady. She taught us so much about life and how to love each other. She was always very welcoming and loving to our children and hugged and loved them like her own. Our kids will cherish so many fond vacation bible school memories at the Brucklacher Barn! Lukas enjoyed helping her at church or whenever she needed it.
    May you feel God's arms holding you gently in your time of loss. There is great sympathy and love for all of you, from our family.
    God Bless you all and thank you for sharing such a beautiful lady with us.
    David, Michelle, Kelcey, Katie and Lukas Butler     ~ Michelle Butler Philip SD (10/1/2017)
  • What a great lady she was, always had time to stop and visit, we enjoyed having her and Al as our neighbors. Hold onto all the wonderful memories, she will be missed. God bless. ~ Les & Joann Pearson Philip, SD (10/1/2017)
  • Rest in peace my good neighbor. I always enjoyed you coming over the hill (on your golf cart) and visiting. God bless.
    ~ Fay Hauk Philip (10/1/2017)