Verdon Kretzschmar

Verdon "Burt" Kretzschmar, age 69, passed away on Thursday, July 9, 2020, at home in Custer after a nine month battle with cancer.

A PRIVATE FAMILY visitation will be held on Friday, July 17, 2020, at the Furness Funeral Home Chapel in Clark with strict CDC social distancing measures in place beginning at noon. Masks or face coverings are REQUIRED in the building. A prayer service will be held at 1:00PM with The Reverend Randy Bader officiating. Music will be from Roxy Weidenbach and Sarah Jorgensen.  Casketbearers will be Lyle Forbes, Rickie Peterson, Marshall Edleman, J. R. Borg, Dave Weidenbach, and Brent Jorgensen.

A PUBLIC GRAVESIDE service will be held at 2:00 PM on Friday, July 17, 2020, in the Collins Cemetery at Willow Lake with The Reverend Randy Bader officiating. CDC social distancing measures will be in place.

Verdon "Burt" Kretzschmar was born April 12, 1951, in Watertown, SD, to Don and Wava (Seefeldt) Kretzschmar.  He grew up on the family farm west of Willow Lake.  He attended country school in Hague Township through the seventh grade and then started attending school in Willow Lake, graduating in 1969.

When he was a toddler, he contracted polio and was in rehabilitation in Huron, but by the grace of God, he survived.

He married the love of his life, Judy Brower, on June 3, 1972, in Willow Lake.  They lived in Aberdeen for a number of years while Verdon worked construction projects.  They moved to Rapid City where Verdon continued to work construction.  He also worked in Sheridan, WY, before they moved to Wright, WY, where Verdon worked at Coal Creek Mine and Black Thunder Mine. He worked there for 35 years as an equipment operator before retiring in 2017.

Verdon and Judy have a residence in the beloved Black Hills, where they were spending their retirement years.  Verdon was given the nickname 'Burt' by his co-workers many years ago.

He enjoyed snowmobiling, boating on Pactola, ice fishing, watching old westerns on TV, and riding his ATV.

Verdon is survived by his wife, Judy; his three sisters, Linda (Bryce) Collins, Willow Lake; Peg (Dale) Jorgensen, Sioux Falls; Pam (Kendall) Borg, Garretson; one brother, Rodell (Desi) Kretzschmar, Willow Lake; and a sister-in-law Arlene Brower, Willow Lake;  their cats, Kiddles and KC, along with several nieces and nephews.

Those that have gone on before him are his parents and two brothers, Verlin and Kevin, a brother-in-law, Jerry Brower and a sister-in-law, Jean (Myron) Edleman.

Condolences may be sent to:  24966 Mica Ridge Rd, Custer, SD 57730.

Furness Funeral Home of Clark is serving the family where there is an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com .