Robert "Bob" Boehnke

Robert “Bob” Boehnke, age 92, of Watertown, SD formerly Henry, SD went to his heavenly home on Friday, March 11, 2022 from Jenkins Living Center in Watertown.  Funeral services will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, March 18, 2022 at St. Martin’s Lutheran Church in Watertown.  Rev. Keith Petersen will officiate.  Music will be provided by Ellen Heisner as organist.  Funeral Service will be Live-streamed via the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel Facebook page

Visitation will be at the Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel in Watertown on Thursday, March 17, 2022 from 5:00-7:00 p.m. with a 7:00 p.m. Prayer Service.

Burial will be at the Lorinda Cemetery in Henry, SD.  Pallbearers will be all of Bob’s grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Robert Laverne Boehnke was born on March 27, 1929, at the family farm home northeast of Henry, SD to John G. and Ella A. (Ulbricht) Boehnke.  He was baptized and confirmed at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Henry, where he was a lifelong member.  Bob attended grade school at North Graceland country school and graduated from Henry High School in 1947.  He was blessed to live his love for farming on the land where he was born and raised until moving to Watertown in 1995, but continued to drive out and assist his son and grandson for several years after that.

Bob married Loretta Seiler on October 20, 1951 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Henry.  They made their home on the family farm and raised five children who were active in many school and 4-H activities.  Bob was known to say that the cows often got milked around the basketball schedule.  Loretta passed away in February 1994.  He married LaVonne “Bonnie” McClendon in April 1995 and they made their home in Watertown.  He and Bonnie enjoyed trips to California for several years to visit her sons, Bob, Randy, Rick, and Mark (Watertown).  She died in December 2015.

Bob was active in his church, holding several church offices and singing in the choir.  He also served on the North Graceland and Henry School Boards, was a long-time clerk for Graceland Township, a 4-H leader, and served 21 years as Director on the Clark Rural Water Board.

Bob will be remembered as a devoted dad who taught by example, a loving husband, and a gentle caregiver.  Most importantly, as a redeemed child of God, he regularly brought his family to God’s house and made his faith a priority throughout his lifetime.  In true farmer fashion and with complete trust in God, he often said “it will rain when it’s supposed to rain”.  He lived his life with that trust!  Conversations with his grandchildren brought him great joy and hugs from his great-grandchildren brought the biggest smiles!

He is survived by his children: Barbara (Lynn) Hartley of Henry, Terry (Ruth) Boehnke of Watertown, Arlen (Joan) Boehnke of Henry, David (Annette) Boehnke of Clark, and Carol (Randy) Wiedebush of Mansfield.  Eleven grandchildren: Adam (Laci) Hartley, Lori (Rick) Hyland, Jenna (Jake) Dawson, Andrew (Tami) Boehnke, Holly (Jeremy) Schultes, John (Christina) Boehnke, Stephanie Boehnke, Ashley McCue, Katie (Andy) Hubbart, Darin Wiedebush and Kelli Roberts.  Twenty great-grandchildren: Brodie Robinson, Aubrie and Tate Hartley, Bailey, Brooklyn and Ray Hyland, Grady and Addison Hulscher, Kendra Dawson, Taylor, Brynn and Kendall Boehnke, Reagan Schultes, Ali (Dillon) Jones, Sean Schultes, Talon Wolf, Bria and Rylan McCue, Camden Hubbart and Hayes Roberts, and a great-great-grandson Liam Jones.  He is also survived by his sister Anita Abraham of Hazel, brother-in-law Marlin (Ginny) Seiler of Iowa, sister in law Clarice Cold of Illinois and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, wives Loretta and Bonnie, siblings and their spouses Lucille (Martin) Lohmiller, Arnold (Verna) and Elmer Boehnke, brother-in-law Carlos Abraham, grandson-in-law James Freudenberg, and five great-grandchildren.

Arrangements by Crawford-Osthus Funeral Chapel. www.crawfordosthus.com
Watertown, Hayti, De Smet and Bryant

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