Leon Elmer Carpenter
January 4, 1929 - December 16, 2022
Leon Elmer Carpenter 93, passed away on Friday, December 16 at Monument Hospice House, Rapid City South Dakota.
Leon Elmer Carpenter was born on January 4, 1929 to Orville and Alma Carpenter in Huron, SD. He attended country school in rural South Dakota and graduated from De Smet High School in 1946. After high school, Leon worked several jobs, including farming with his father, Orville in northeast De Smet, SD, driving truck, and attending to the shelves at the local Coast to Coast hardware store. In September 1947, shortly after his mother Alma died, he joined the South Dakota Army National Guard as a citizen soldier in De Smet, as a Supply Sergeant. In January 1950, he was hired as a full time Guardsman continuing to serve as a full-time Supply Sergeant. He was called to active-duty September 1,1950 for the Korean War where he mobilized first to Ft. Carson CO and subsequently was transferred to Ft. Benning GA. In September 1952, he de-mobilized, returned home to De Smet and continued full time technician duty rising to the rank to Chief Warrant Officer 4. In September 1974, he accepted a position with the 1085th Medical Detachment in Rapid City, SD as a Unit Administrator. From there, he served in multiple units throughout Camp Rapid, SD Army National Guard ecosystem retiring in 1989 with over 40 years of military service.
In November 1953, Leon married Rogene Alger in De Smet. They had three children, adding to Rogene's two children from a previous marriage.
Leon's second marriage was in August 1975 to Kathleen Cecil in Rapid City. She had four children from a previous marriage. They shared a life together until Kathy's death in July 2017.
Leon's love of engineering and mechanics were ever present in his life. He personally built 3 of his own houses, as well as multiple barns and garages with no reference to blueprints or plans, just in his head and on a penciled scratch pad. The last house he built, he started in his mid-70's. At young age of 85, Leon had to replace his hail damaged roof by himself and the help from a neighbor (77 years old) because he couldn't find any contractor available and "winter was coming". He rebuilt several old tractors, with Allis Chalmers being his favorite model. He could always be found out in his "playpen" woodworking. He was a voracious reader, favoring US history. He loved playing cribbage, Pegs and Jokers, and visiting with anybody who was around. He and Kathy were Yuma AZ "Snowbirds" from 1994-2006 where they made many friends from all over the country. Leon and Kathy finally moved "off the farm" into the Rapid City retirement community Echo Ridge.
Leon was a member of Black Hills Bible Church, Our Saviors Lutheran Church, Hermosa, SD and American Legion Posts 138 (DeSmet) and 303 (Hermosa). He served as a De Smet South Dakota City Commissioner, Volunteer Fireman, and Water Commissioner.
Leon is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Kathy; his son, James Carpenter; his brother, Neil Carpenter; his brother-in-law, Dale Snyder, Watertown. He is survived by his 2 children; 6 stepchildren; 2 sisters and brother; sister-in-law; as well as multiple grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at 10:30 am at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Hermosa with Pastor Deb Grismer presiding. Visitation will begin at 9:30 am. Burial will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Hermosa, SD.
January 4, 1929 - December 16, 2022
Leon Elmer Carpenter 93, passed away on Friday, December 16 at Monument Hospice House, Rapid City South Dakota.
Leon Elmer Carpenter was born on January 4, 1929 to Orville and Alma Carpenter in Huron, SD. He attended country school in rural South Dakota and graduated from De Smet High School in 1946. After high school, Leon worked several jobs, including farming with his father, Orville in northeast De Smet, SD, driving truck, and attending to the shelves at the local Coast to Coast hardware store. In September 1947, shortly after his mother Alma died, he joined the South Dakota Army National Guard as a citizen soldier in De Smet, as a Supply Sergeant. In January 1950, he was hired as a full time Guardsman continuing to serve as a full-time Supply Sergeant. He was called to active-duty September 1,1950 for the Korean War where he mobilized first to Ft. Carson CO and subsequently was transferred to Ft. Benning GA. In September 1952, he de-mobilized, returned home to De Smet and continued full time technician duty rising to the rank to Chief Warrant Officer 4. In September 1974, he accepted a position with the 1085th Medical Detachment in Rapid City, SD as a Unit Administrator. From there, he served in multiple units throughout Camp Rapid, SD Army National Guard ecosystem retiring in 1989 with over 40 years of military service.
In November 1953, Leon married Rogene Alger in De Smet. They had three children, adding to Rogene's two children from a previous marriage.
Leon's second marriage was in August 1975 to Kathleen Cecil in Rapid City. She had four children from a previous marriage. They shared a life together until Kathy's death in July 2017.
Leon's love of engineering and mechanics were ever present in his life. He personally built 3 of his own houses, as well as multiple barns and garages with no reference to blueprints or plans, just in his head and on a penciled scratch pad. The last house he built, he started in his mid-70's. At young age of 85, Leon had to replace his hail damaged roof by himself and the help from a neighbor (77 years old) because he couldn't find any contractor available and "winter was coming". He rebuilt several old tractors, with Allis Chalmers being his favorite model. He could always be found out in his "playpen" woodworking. He was a voracious reader, favoring US history. He loved playing cribbage, Pegs and Jokers, and visiting with anybody who was around. He and Kathy were Yuma AZ "Snowbirds" from 1994-2006 where they made many friends from all over the country. Leon and Kathy finally moved "off the farm" into the Rapid City retirement community Echo Ridge.
Leon was a member of Black Hills Bible Church, Our Saviors Lutheran Church, Hermosa, SD and American Legion Posts 138 (DeSmet) and 303 (Hermosa). He served as a De Smet South Dakota City Commissioner, Volunteer Fireman, and Water Commissioner.
Leon is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Kathy; his son, James Carpenter; his brother, Neil Carpenter; his brother-in-law, Dale Snyder, Watertown. He is survived by his 2 children; 6 stepchildren; 2 sisters and brother; sister-in-law; as well as multiple grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at 10:30 am at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Hermosa with Pastor Deb Grismer presiding. Visitation will begin at 9:30 am. Burial will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Hermosa, SD.
Leon Elmer Carpenter
January 4, 1929 - December 16, 2022
Leon Elmer Carpenter 93, passed away on Friday, December 16 at Monument Hospice House, Rapid City South Dakota.
Leon Elmer Carpenter was born on January 4, 1929 to Orville and Alma Carpenter in Huron, SD. He attended country school in rural South Dakota and graduated from De Smet High School in 1946. After high school, Leon worked several jobs, including farming with his father, Orville in northeast De Smet, SD, driving truck, and attending to the shelves at the local Coast to Coast hardware store. In September 1947, shortly after his mother Alma died, he joined the South Dakota Army National Guard as a citizen soldier in De Smet, as a Supply Sergeant. In January 1950, he was hired as a full time Guardsman continuing to serve as a full-time Supply Sergeant. He was called to active-duty September 1,1950 for the Korean War where he mobilized first to Ft. Carson CO and subsequently was transferred to Ft. Benning GA. In September 1952, he de-mobilized, returned home to De Smet and continued full time technician duty rising to the rank to Chief Warrant Officer 4. In September 1974, he accepted a position with the 1085th Medical Detachment in Rapid City, SD as a Unit Administrator. From there, he served in multiple units throughout Camp Rapid, SD Army National Guard ecosystem retiring in 1989 with over 40 years of military service.
In November 1953, Leon married Rogene Alger in De Smet. They had three children, adding to Rogene's two children from a previous marriage.
Leon's second marriage was in August 1975 to Kathleen Cecil in Rapid City. She had four children from a previous marriage. They shared a life together until Kathy's death in July 2017.
Leon's love of engineering and mechanics were ever present in his life. He personally built 3 of his own houses, as well as multiple barns and garages with no reference to blueprints or plans, just in his head and on a penciled scratch pad. The last house he built, he started in his mid-70's. At young age of 85, Leon had to replace his hail damaged roof by himself and the help from a neighbor (77 years old) because he couldn't find any contractor available and "winter was coming". He rebuilt several old tractors, with Allis Chalmers being his favorite model. He could always be found out in his "playpen" woodworking. He was a voracious reader, favoring US history. He loved playing cribbage, Pegs and Jokers, and visiting with anybody who was around. He and Kathy were Yuma AZ "Snowbirds" from 1994-2006 where they made many friends from all over the country. Leon and Kathy finally moved "off the farm" into the Rapid City retirement community Echo Ridge.
Leon was a member of Black Hills Bible Church, Our Saviors Lutheran Church, Hermosa, SD and American Legion Posts 138 (DeSmet) and 303 (Hermosa). He served as a De Smet South Dakota City Commissioner, Volunteer Fireman, and Water Commissioner.
Leon is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Kathy; his son, James Carpenter; his brother, Neil Carpenter; his brother-in-law, Dale Snyder, Watertown. He is survived by his 2 children; 6 stepchildren; 2 sisters and brother; sister-in-law; as well as multiple grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at 10:30 am at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Hermosa with Pastor Deb Grismer presiding. Visitation will begin at 9:30 am. Burial will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Hermosa, SD.
January 4, 1929 - December 16, 2022
Leon Elmer Carpenter 93, passed away on Friday, December 16 at Monument Hospice House, Rapid City South Dakota.
Leon Elmer Carpenter was born on January 4, 1929 to Orville and Alma Carpenter in Huron, SD. He attended country school in rural South Dakota and graduated from De Smet High School in 1946. After high school, Leon worked several jobs, including farming with his father, Orville in northeast De Smet, SD, driving truck, and attending to the shelves at the local Coast to Coast hardware store. In September 1947, shortly after his mother Alma died, he joined the South Dakota Army National Guard as a citizen soldier in De Smet, as a Supply Sergeant. In January 1950, he was hired as a full time Guardsman continuing to serve as a full-time Supply Sergeant. He was called to active-duty September 1,1950 for the Korean War where he mobilized first to Ft. Carson CO and subsequently was transferred to Ft. Benning GA. In September 1952, he de-mobilized, returned home to De Smet and continued full time technician duty rising to the rank to Chief Warrant Officer 4. In September 1974, he accepted a position with the 1085th Medical Detachment in Rapid City, SD as a Unit Administrator. From there, he served in multiple units throughout Camp Rapid, SD Army National Guard ecosystem retiring in 1989 with over 40 years of military service.
In November 1953, Leon married Rogene Alger in De Smet. They had three children, adding to Rogene's two children from a previous marriage.
Leon's second marriage was in August 1975 to Kathleen Cecil in Rapid City. She had four children from a previous marriage. They shared a life together until Kathy's death in July 2017.
Leon's love of engineering and mechanics were ever present in his life. He personally built 3 of his own houses, as well as multiple barns and garages with no reference to blueprints or plans, just in his head and on a penciled scratch pad. The last house he built, he started in his mid-70's. At young age of 85, Leon had to replace his hail damaged roof by himself and the help from a neighbor (77 years old) because he couldn't find any contractor available and "winter was coming". He rebuilt several old tractors, with Allis Chalmers being his favorite model. He could always be found out in his "playpen" woodworking. He was a voracious reader, favoring US history. He loved playing cribbage, Pegs and Jokers, and visiting with anybody who was around. He and Kathy were Yuma AZ "Snowbirds" from 1994-2006 where they made many friends from all over the country. Leon and Kathy finally moved "off the farm" into the Rapid City retirement community Echo Ridge.
Leon was a member of Black Hills Bible Church, Our Saviors Lutheran Church, Hermosa, SD and American Legion Posts 138 (DeSmet) and 303 (Hermosa). He served as a De Smet South Dakota City Commissioner, Volunteer Fireman, and Water Commissioner.
Leon is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Kathy; his son, James Carpenter; his brother, Neil Carpenter; his brother-in-law, Dale Snyder, Watertown. He is survived by his 2 children; 6 stepchildren; 2 sisters and brother; sister-in-law; as well as multiple grandchildren, great-grandchildren, nieces and nephews.
Funeral services will be Wednesday, December 21, 2022 at 10:30 am at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Hermosa with Pastor Deb Grismer presiding. Visitation will begin at 9:30 am. Burial will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials can be directed to Our Savior's Lutheran Church, Hermosa, SD.
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