Donald Leo Lutz was born December 6th, 1920 in Faith, SD to Simon and Julia (Kelly) Lutz. As a child, Donald attended the one-room Flint Rock Grade School, just adjacent to the Lutz's Open-Padlock Ranch, seven miles North of Faith. He graduated from Faith High School in 1939.
He decided to stay on the ranch, which became his passion. He became a life time rancher with his father and brother at the Open Padlock Ranch on Flint Rock Creek. Upon his retirement, he left the family business to Dave and Kitty Lutz.
Don was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 2705 for 55 years and a member of St. Joseph's parish. Don enjoyed working and helping at the Faith Stock Show and was a long time member.
Don met Patricia Payette in Las Vegas through his sister, Carmel, and developed an immediate relationship. He ensured she would not leave him when Pat broke her back while riding a horse out at the ranch. Shortly after that, Don and Pat were united in marriage on May 25th, 1957 in California. Following a honeymoon in Hawaii, the newlyweds moved to the family ranch North of Faith, SD. From this union three sons were born: Stephen, David, and Timothy. Don and Pat were happily married for 45 years. He was a loving and devoted husband and father. He took very good care of his wife in her later years of extended illness.
Don's favorite thing was visiting with all his neighbors and friends. He was a wonderful cook and enjoyed having friends and neighbors over into his early nineties. Don was very fond of brandings at the neighbors' and made sure oysters were available for all. He hosted his class reunions every two years with a large celebration at the ranch. His passion was his cows and riding horseback as well. Fishing trips with the neighbors was one of his favorite pastimes. He was an avid player of card games such as whist, 31, and cribbage. In later years, he was seen walking one mile up to the old schoolhouse every day when the weather cooperated; and of course, his weekly senior group trips. Not to be forgotten were his 8 grandchildren that he enjoyed visiting with on a regular basis.
Don passed away at the Rapid City Regional Hospital in Rapid City, SD on Sunday, April 12, 2015.
Don is survived by his 3 sons, two brother-in-laws, one sister-in-law, numerous nieces, nephews and godchildren; and 8 grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Pat; his parents, Simon and Julia Lutz; sister, Bernice and Bob Reddin; sister, Carmel Atwater; brother, Elvon and Denisse Lutz; brother, Howard Lutz (died in infancy); brother-in-laws, Don (Sue) Payette and Frank Cassidy; sister-in-laws, Mary Lohrstorfer, Carolie Driscoll, and Ila Steyer.
Mass of Christian Burial for Donald "Don" L. Lutz,94, of Faith, SD will be on Friday, April 17, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Faith, SD, Fr. Jim Hoerter will officiate and burial will follow at the St. Joseph's Cemetery west of Faith. Visitation will be from 5:00 until the Wake service at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday evening, April 16, all at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Faith.
He decided to stay on the ranch, which became his passion. He became a life time rancher with his father and brother at the Open Padlock Ranch on Flint Rock Creek. Upon his retirement, he left the family business to Dave and Kitty Lutz.
Don was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 2705 for 55 years and a member of St. Joseph's parish. Don enjoyed working and helping at the Faith Stock Show and was a long time member.
Don met Patricia Payette in Las Vegas through his sister, Carmel, and developed an immediate relationship. He ensured she would not leave him when Pat broke her back while riding a horse out at the ranch. Shortly after that, Don and Pat were united in marriage on May 25th, 1957 in California. Following a honeymoon in Hawaii, the newlyweds moved to the family ranch North of Faith, SD. From this union three sons were born: Stephen, David, and Timothy. Don and Pat were happily married for 45 years. He was a loving and devoted husband and father. He took very good care of his wife in her later years of extended illness.
Don's favorite thing was visiting with all his neighbors and friends. He was a wonderful cook and enjoyed having friends and neighbors over into his early nineties. Don was very fond of brandings at the neighbors' and made sure oysters were available for all. He hosted his class reunions every two years with a large celebration at the ranch. His passion was his cows and riding horseback as well. Fishing trips with the neighbors was one of his favorite pastimes. He was an avid player of card games such as whist, 31, and cribbage. In later years, he was seen walking one mile up to the old schoolhouse every day when the weather cooperated; and of course, his weekly senior group trips. Not to be forgotten were his 8 grandchildren that he enjoyed visiting with on a regular basis.
Don passed away at the Rapid City Regional Hospital in Rapid City, SD on Sunday, April 12, 2015.
Don is survived by his 3 sons, two brother-in-laws, one sister-in-law, numerous nieces, nephews and godchildren; and 8 grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Pat; his parents, Simon and Julia Lutz; sister, Bernice and Bob Reddin; sister, Carmel Atwater; brother, Elvon and Denisse Lutz; brother, Howard Lutz (died in infancy); brother-in-laws, Don (Sue) Payette and Frank Cassidy; sister-in-laws, Mary Lohrstorfer, Carolie Driscoll, and Ila Steyer.
Mass of Christian Burial for Donald "Don" L. Lutz,94, of Faith, SD will be on Friday, April 17, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Faith, SD, Fr. Jim Hoerter will officiate and burial will follow at the St. Joseph's Cemetery west of Faith. Visitation will be from 5:00 until the Wake service at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday evening, April 16, all at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Faith.
Donald Leo Lutz was born December 6th, 1920 in Faith, SD to Simon and Julia (Kelly) Lutz. As a child, Donald attended the one-room Flint Rock Grade School, just adjacent to the Lutz's Open-Padlock Ranch, seven miles North of Faith. He graduated from Faith High School in 1939.
He decided to stay on the ranch, which became his passion. He became a life time rancher with his father and brother at the Open Padlock Ranch on Flint Rock Creek. Upon his retirement, he left the family business to Dave and Kitty Lutz.
Don was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 2705 for 55 years and a member of St. Joseph's parish. Don enjoyed working and helping at the Faith Stock Show and was a long time member.
Don met Patricia Payette in Las Vegas through his sister, Carmel, and developed an immediate relationship. He ensured she would not leave him when Pat broke her back while riding a horse out at the ranch. Shortly after that, Don and Pat were united in marriage on May 25th, 1957 in California. Following a honeymoon in Hawaii, the newlyweds moved to the family ranch North of Faith, SD. From this union three sons were born: Stephen, David, and Timothy. Don and Pat were happily married for 45 years. He was a loving and devoted husband and father. He took very good care of his wife in her later years of extended illness.
Don's favorite thing was visiting with all his neighbors and friends. He was a wonderful cook and enjoyed having friends and neighbors over into his early nineties. Don was very fond of brandings at the neighbors' and made sure oysters were available for all. He hosted his class reunions every two years with a large celebration at the ranch. His passion was his cows and riding horseback as well. Fishing trips with the neighbors was one of his favorite pastimes. He was an avid player of card games such as whist, 31, and cribbage. In later years, he was seen walking one mile up to the old schoolhouse every day when the weather cooperated; and of course, his weekly senior group trips. Not to be forgotten were his 8 grandchildren that he enjoyed visiting with on a regular basis.
Don passed away at the Rapid City Regional Hospital in Rapid City, SD on Sunday, April 12, 2015.
Don is survived by his 3 sons, two brother-in-laws, one sister-in-law, numerous nieces, nephews and godchildren; and 8 grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Pat; his parents, Simon and Julia Lutz; sister, Bernice and Bob Reddin; sister, Carmel Atwater; brother, Elvon and Denisse Lutz; brother, Howard Lutz (died in infancy); brother-in-laws, Don (Sue) Payette and Frank Cassidy; sister-in-laws, Mary Lohrstorfer, Carolie Driscoll, and Ila Steyer.
Mass of Christian Burial for Donald "Don" L. Lutz,94, of Faith, SD will be on Friday, April 17, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Faith, SD, Fr. Jim Hoerter will officiate and burial will follow at the St. Joseph's Cemetery west of Faith. Visitation will be from 5:00 until the Wake service at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday evening, April 16, all at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Faith.
He decided to stay on the ranch, which became his passion. He became a life time rancher with his father and brother at the Open Padlock Ranch on Flint Rock Creek. Upon his retirement, he left the family business to Dave and Kitty Lutz.
Don was a member of the Knights of Columbus Council 2705 for 55 years and a member of St. Joseph's parish. Don enjoyed working and helping at the Faith Stock Show and was a long time member.
Don met Patricia Payette in Las Vegas through his sister, Carmel, and developed an immediate relationship. He ensured she would not leave him when Pat broke her back while riding a horse out at the ranch. Shortly after that, Don and Pat were united in marriage on May 25th, 1957 in California. Following a honeymoon in Hawaii, the newlyweds moved to the family ranch North of Faith, SD. From this union three sons were born: Stephen, David, and Timothy. Don and Pat were happily married for 45 years. He was a loving and devoted husband and father. He took very good care of his wife in her later years of extended illness.
Don's favorite thing was visiting with all his neighbors and friends. He was a wonderful cook and enjoyed having friends and neighbors over into his early nineties. Don was very fond of brandings at the neighbors' and made sure oysters were available for all. He hosted his class reunions every two years with a large celebration at the ranch. His passion was his cows and riding horseback as well. Fishing trips with the neighbors was one of his favorite pastimes. He was an avid player of card games such as whist, 31, and cribbage. In later years, he was seen walking one mile up to the old schoolhouse every day when the weather cooperated; and of course, his weekly senior group trips. Not to be forgotten were his 8 grandchildren that he enjoyed visiting with on a regular basis.
Don passed away at the Rapid City Regional Hospital in Rapid City, SD on Sunday, April 12, 2015.
Don is survived by his 3 sons, two brother-in-laws, one sister-in-law, numerous nieces, nephews and godchildren; and 8 grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Pat; his parents, Simon and Julia Lutz; sister, Bernice and Bob Reddin; sister, Carmel Atwater; brother, Elvon and Denisse Lutz; brother, Howard Lutz (died in infancy); brother-in-laws, Don (Sue) Payette and Frank Cassidy; sister-in-laws, Mary Lohrstorfer, Carolie Driscoll, and Ila Steyer.
Mass of Christian Burial for Donald "Don" L. Lutz,94, of Faith, SD will be on Friday, April 17, 2015 at 10:30 a.m. at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Faith, SD, Fr. Jim Hoerter will officiate and burial will follow at the St. Joseph's Cemetery west of Faith. Visitation will be from 5:00 until the Wake service at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday evening, April 16, all at St. Joseph's Catholic Church in Faith.
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