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Lenore Brucklacherof Philip, South Dakota, died on Saturday, September 30, 2017
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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.
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