The Funeral Service for Lester Brockel, age 77 of Bison, will be held at 2:00 pm Friday, March 23, 2012 at the American Lutheran Church in Bison with Pastor Phil Hahn, officiating. Burial will be in the Bison Cemetery with full military honors afforded by the Rogers-Smith American Legion Post #255 of Bison.


Visitation will be from 5:00 until the time of the family service at 7:00pm on Thursday evening at Grace Baptist Church in Bison.


Special music will be provided by Roxie Seaman, Vicki Hahn, Peggy Veal, Cathy Durkin, and Janet LaDue.


Serving as casketbearers are Brad, Chris, and Casey Besler, Kelvin and Audie Brockel, and Terry Hafner.


A memorial has been established.


LESTER LEE BROCKEL was born on the family farm near Bison, SD on March 4, 1935 to Carl and Helen (Reichert) Brockel. He attended school in Bison graduating from Bison High School in 1953. He enlisted into the South Dakota Army National Guard during his high school years and then on April 20, 1954, Lester was called from inactive duty to serve in the U.S. Army. He was honorably discharged March 16, 1956 from the U.S. Army, but continued serving in the National Guard.


Lester was united in marriage to Ramona Smith on June 16, 1956 at Prairie City, SD. Lester then attended an Agricultural School in Lemmon. Lester and Ramona began farming and ranching in the fall of 1956 west of Bison. Over the years, they continued to expand their operation, later involving their son, Tom. They lived on the same farm for nearly 56 years.


Two children, June and Tom were born to this union.


In his earlier years, he enjoyed playing sports, especially baseball and pitching horseshoes.


Lester passed away after fighting a courageous battle with cancer on Tuesday, March 20, 2012 at the West River Regional Medical Center in Hettinger.


Surviving family members include his wife, Ramona, son, Tom Brockel, both of Bison, SD; daughter and son-in-law, June and Dale Shinabarger, Plattsburg, MO; grandson, Terry Shinabarger; 2 brothers and 2 sisters-in-law, Ted Brockel, Bison, SD: Elmer and Fern Brockel, Lemmon, SD; and Marilyn Brockel, McIntosh, SD; and a sister and brother-in-law, Betty and Roger Strain, Morrill, NE.


He was preceded in death by his parents, 2 brothers, Leo Brockel and Richard Brockel, 2 sisters, Wilma Krueger and Verna Freeman, and a sister-in-law, Jean Brockel.