Leo Tschetter: 1937-2023
Leo William Tschetter was born on May 17, 1937 at home to William E. Tschetter and Mary (Kleinsasser) Tschetter in Freeman, S.D. He died on Aug. 31, 2023 at Edgewood Assisted in Brookings, S.D., living to the age of 86 years old.
He was baptized while in high school in the Bethany Mennonite Church in Freeman.
Leo attended elementary and high school in Freeman and graduated in 1956. As a student in grade school and high school, he never missed a day of school. Paul Harvey News in 1991 recognized his attendance record on the radio and sent him an excerpt of the broadcast.
He attended Freeman Jr. College and earned an associate of arts degree and was certified as an elementary teacher. He earned a BS degree in education from Southern State Teacher College in 1962 and a master’s degree in school administration from South Dakota State University in 1970. Leo taught school for 10 years before becoming an elementary school principal in 1968. He served as principal in Estelline and Arlington public schools. His career in education spanned 37 years. While in education he served on state evaluation committees and was twice nominated as Distinguished Elementary Principal in South Dakota.
Leo married Blanche Brockmueller in Freeman on Aug. 14, 1960. Together they enjoyed fishing, traveling and in retirement spending the winter months in Texas. While living in Arlington for 47 years he served as Boy Scout Master for 10 years and also served on the city council in 1979. He received the Boy Scout Master of the Year award in the Sioux Council. He was active in the Calvery Free Lutheran Church that he attended.
He is survived by his wife, Blanche; one son Joseph and wife Patty of Brookings, and their children, Jared and Alicia Tschetter; one daughter Susan and husband Clint Kohl of Cedarville, Ohio, and their children Caleb (Ashley) Kohl, Kathryn (Joshua) Chipchase, Daniel (Kayla) Kohl and Timothy Kohl. He has seven great-grandchildren: Eden and Deacon Leo Kohl, Zwingli, Kuyper and Twilight Chipchase, and Brandon and Patrick Kohl.
He was preceded in death by his parents and two sisters, Anna and Winifred.
(Written by Leo Tschetter)
The family prefers memorial gifts in lieu of flowers. All donations will be given to Freeman Academy and Rio Grande Bible Institute.
A visitation will be held Tuesday, Sept. 5 from 5 to 7 p.m., with a funeral service Wednesday, Sept. 6 at 10:30 a.m., both at Calvary Free Lutheran Church in Arlington, S.D.
Burial will follow at Tschetter Cemetery in Freeman.
