Funeral services for Harry W. Preszler, age 95 of Rapid City, formerly of Bison will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 2, at the American Lutheran Church in Bison. Pastor Marjorie Hershey will officiate with burial in the Bison Cemetery.


Special music will be provided by Gen Kopren, organist.


Serving as casketbearers are Herb Kolb, Arlen Aaker, Dean Penor, Ernest Kari, Floyd Preszler, Shawn Preszler.


HARRY W. PRESZLER was born on August 21, 1912 to Jake and Christine (Albrecht) Preszler at Meadow, SD in the present homestead home. Out of 11 children, he was the fourth child. He became known as "Hank" at an early age. He did not like school and would climb out a window and run to the Livery Stable owned by his dad. His dad would let him stay and gave him little chores to do. People who would come by would say, "see your hired man "Hank" is helping you today." His grandchildren call him "Pa" and his great grandchildren call him "old Grandpa."


He met Bea Johnson at a dance in Strool and they were married on July 10, 1938. They had one daughter, Darlys born October 15, 1939, and a son, Monte, born December 6, 1942. He helped his dad on the homestead, especially during harvest and he and Bea ran a boarding house in Bison for school children from out of town. He owned a gas station in Huron, SD, a pool hall in Lemmon, SD, worked for Triple A and the Grand Electric in Bison. He owned Preszler's U-Save grocery store in Bison for 15 years. After retiring, he worked for the Department of Agriculture for several years.


Harry passed away on Wednesday morning, July 30, at his daughter Darlys and son-in-law Jim's home in Rapid City.


He enjoyed hunting and was an avid fisherman, sharing his catchings with many friends, neighbors and family. He moved to Rapid City to be near his daughter, Darlys in 2004. Like all grandfathers, he enjoyed his eight grandchildren, 13 great grandchildren, and two great great grandchildren.


Surviving family members include his daughter and son-in-law, Darlys and James Zeller, Rapid City, SD; eight grandchildren, Penny Jo, Wendy, Delinda (Dee Dee), Paula, Lisa, Kristy, Rocky, and Trish; 13 great grandchildren; two great great grandchildren; one brother and two sisters-in-law, Kenneth and Joyce Preszler, Lemmon, SD, Betty Preszler, Lemmon, SD; two sisters, Mildred and Fred Voigt, Cordova, TN; Pearl Ehlert, Little Chute, WI; special niece Betty Parrott; Rapid City, SD; and several nieces and nephews.


He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Bea, one son Monte, five brothers, Arthur, Ervin, Robert, Raymond, and Harold Preszler, two sisters, Lillian Johnson and Esther Watts.


A memorial has been established to the American Lutheran Church in Bison and the Hospice House in Rapid City.


Visitation will be 4:00 to 5:00pm on Friday, August 1, at the Evanson-Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon and on Saturday one hour prior to services at the church in Bison.