Walter Gutzmer

Walter Valentine “Walt” Gutzmer went to be with his Lord, Monday, March 11, 2024, at his home in Brookings.
Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, March 26, at Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings with burial at 2 P.M. at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery in Sioux Falls. Visitations will be from 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, March 26, at Eidsness Funeral Home.
Walt was born 14 Feb 1928, on the Old Fee Farm, Silver Creek Township, near Woonsocket, Sanborn Co, SD, to Otto Augustus Gutzmer and Babette Magdalena Spillman. Due to childbirth complications, his mother passed away two days following his birth, leaving his father to raise 2-day-old Walter, five daughters, and two sons. When he was 5 years old, his sister, Mrs. Betty Luhrs (Martin A.) offered to care for Walt and his two younger sisters, Erna and Florence. He attended grade school in Springdale Township, Lincoln County, SD, and attended High School in Harrisburg and Burbank. His senior year he attended Burbank High School while living with his sister, Mrs. Erna Braun (Al), graduating on May 16, 1947. Walt attended college at General Beadle State ( 1947-1949) and Huron College for one year. While attending General Beadle State College he received awards in football and tumbling.
Walt was baptized at the place of his birth, the Old Fee Farm when he was 1 day old. This information was interestingly discovered in the German copy of the Otto A. Gutzmer Sr. family Bible written by his father in German. He was confirmed June 14, 1942, at the Zion Lutheran Church, Sioux Falls, SD.
Walt joined the Army National Guard while a freshman (1947- 48) at General Beadle Teacher’s College, retiring in 1985. His 37 year military involvement included 36 years in the SD Army National Guard and one year in the Air Force Reserve. He retired as a Master Sergeant. Called to active duty in September of 1950, he spent one year at Fort Carson, CO. Walt was honorably discharged in September of 1952. He received the N.C.O. Academic Award in 1966. Walt was a life-long member of the American Legion for 73 years, and was a member of the William F. Reeves Post No. 7 American Legion in Huron, except for a brief time as a member of the Iroquois Post. In 1969, he was the Legionnaire of the year, served as vice-commander of the Legion and served on many executive committees. Walt was a member of the 40&8 Voiture and served as its historian. He was also a member of the SD National Guard Enlisted Men’s Assn.
Immediately following his time at General Beadle Teacher’s College in 1949, Walt worked at Benson Optical and Northwestern Public Service in Huron. In 1951, Walt returned to Huron from active duty, beginning his career in 1952, as an engineering aide with the Department of Interior, Bureau of Reclamation, Huron, SD. In 1955, he transferred to the Soil Conservation Service and on July 5, 1977, he was reassigned as a soil conservation technician in Hamlin County, Hayti, SD. 3 yrs later, he transferred to Brookings. In 1985, he returned back to the Huron Federal office as the mail clerk, retiring in Aug. 1987, with a total of 35 yrs. of federal service. In 1985, he received an award for submitting the idea of a double angle prism to lay out the guide row for field windbreaks. Following retirement he started his own business mowing lawns (known as the “Lawn Ranger”), worked a couple of years as a clerk for Baete-Forseth Inc, spent several years maintaining Taco John’s yard, and as a volunteer making many lasting friends at the East Central MH and CD Center.
Walt enjoyed reading (particularly reading the Brookings Register for many hours each day with his educated companion, Cleo the cat), taking pictures of family, playing basketball with his kids, playing cards and checkers with his grandchildren, and taking them to the library. His eyes would twinkle when he looked for the opportunity to play a “joke” on someone. Walt especially had a soft spot in his heart for infants, and absolutely loved spending time with his grandchildren and great-grandchildren. When he saw anyone that may be in trouble he would be the first to lend a helping hand.
Walt married Ida Mae Timm Aug. 29, 1950, in Woonsocket, SD. They later divorced, but together helped raise four children: Barbara, Belinda, Kent, and Sheri Lynn Gutzmer. In 1967, Walt met the love of his life, Carolyn Jo Morrison Sinkie. They married June 1, 1969, at the Presbyterian Church, Huron, SD, combining two families into one, all using the surname Gutzmer. When Carolyn’s three children, Rick, Debra, and Janeen, turned 18 they legally changed their surname to Gutzmer. Walt and Carolyn were married 54 years before his passing.
Walt is survived by his wife Carolyn; two sons: Kent and Rick Gutzmer; three daughters: Sheri Lynn Gutzmer (Deb Castle), Debbie Gutzmer Leonard (Peter), and Janeen Gutzmer Thill (Tim), and a special granddaughter who is like a daughter, Heidi Lynn Hamer; 10 grandchildren: Bob Eitreim, Heidi Eitreim Hamer, Scout Gutzmerson (spouse Erik Olson), Zachary Leonard (Daniele), Ben and Sam Leonard, Rachel Leonard Murray (Luke), Anika Thill Mohs (Andrew), Elizabeth Thill Radil (Darren) and Isaac Thill; 12 Great-grandchildren: Alissa Lee VanDiepen, AJ, Jaiden, and PFC/E3 Riley Hamer serving in So. Korea, Lilliana Foarde, Zoe and Alice Leonard, Josiah, Madelyn and Fiadh Murray, Eleanor Mohs and Esther Radil and one great-great-granddaughter, Paisley Kay Colton; six nieces; and five nephews.
He is preceded in death by his parents, first wife, Ida Mae Timm Walker, two daughters: Barbara Lee Gutzmer Eitreim and Belinda Marie Gutzmer; one infant great-granddaughter, Myra Janeen Mohs; five sisters; and two brothers.
In lieu of flowers, the Gutzmer family requests that donations be made to family for donation to a cause of their choice.