Walter Robert Danekas

Walter Robert Danekas, age 84, Clark, formerly of the Raymond community, died on Wednesday morning, September 28, 2005, on his 59th wedding anniversary, at the Beverly Healthcare Center in Clark where he had resided for the past month. Funeral services will be held on Monday, October 3, 2005 at 2PM in the Bethlehem Lutheran Church at Raymond with the Reverend Mark Guthmiller officiating. Burial will follow in the Prairie Valley Cemetery at Raymond. Barb Wegman will be the organist. Ushers will be John Hermoe and Joe Peters. Honorary Casketbearers will be David Hink, Howard Schrader, Francis Bobzien, Vince Kennealley, Herb Wegman & Harold Hurlbert. Active Casketbearers are Francis Hass, Steve Danekas, Tom Beauvais, Robert Wegman, Bob Gergen & Jim Kopriva. Visitation will be held on Sunday from 5-7 PM at the Furness Funeral Home at Clark and 2 hours preceding services at the Church on Monday in Raymond. He was born at Raymond, SD, on July 17, 1921, the son of Albert and Elizabeth (Beckman) Danekas. He attended school at Raymond and was a 1940 graduate of Raymond High School. Following his education he began a lifelong love of farming and raising registered Black Angus. On September 28, 1946 he was united in marriage to Valois A. Deslauriers at Watertown. The couple lived for a short time near Raymond before building the farm east of town. They lived there, raising their five children, farming and continuing the Black Angus operation, called the Blue Top Angus Farm. In 2003 they moved into Clark. He was a lifelong member of the Bethlehem Lutheran Church (WELS) at Raymond and had served on the Church board. A passion of his was his collection of Studebaker automobiles. He had won several trophies and awards for his cars. Grateful for having shared in his life is his wife Valois of Clark, children, James Danekas and wife Sherry of Wilton, CA, Gene Danekas and wife Phyllis of Columbia, MO, Janet Koelsch of Mendota Heights, MN, Judy Callaway and husband Jeff of Rapid City and Ruth Leis and husband Gary of Henderson, NV; 7 grandchildren, Jamie, Michael, Danielle, Mercedes, Peter, Sara and Anna and a great-granddaughter, Lilly. He also leaves sisters-in-law, Valois J. Danekas of Clark and Audrey Danekas of Sioux Falls. Preceding him in death were his parents and 2 brothers, Bill and Leonard Danekas. Arrangements by the Furness Funeral Home at Clark where email condolences can be sent to www.furnessfuneralhome.com