Derald Walter, 90
Derald Walter, 90, of Freeman, S.D., passed away Wednesday, Oct. 30, 2024 at the Freeman Regional Nursing Home. A funeral service is scheduled for Saturday, Nov. 9 at 10:30 a.m. at Bethany Mennonite Church in Freeman. A visitation will be held on Friday from 5 to 7 p.m. at the church.
Derald Joseph Walter was born Feb. 4, 1934; the only child to Michael I. and Barbara (Pullman) Walter. Born and raised in Freeman, he grew up helping his family with the furniture and funeral businesses. After graduating from Freeman High School in 1952, he attended Kansas City Mortuary School and graduated in March of 1954.
Upon his return from mortuary school, he joined and worked alongside his father, Mike, at Walter’s Funeral Home and Walter Furniture. On July 18th, 1954, Derald married LaVonne Juhnke at Bethany Mennonite Church in Freeman. To that union, three children were born: Michael, Cathy, and Julie.
Derald was passionate about his profession, and for over 60 years he provided funeral services for Freeman and the surrounding communities. He passed that passion on to his son, Michael, and grandson, Nathan.
Derald was a lifetime member of Bethany Mennonite Church, serving many offices and teaching Sunday school over the years. As a young man, he gave his life to Christ and was later baptized in obedience to his faith. He was a spiritual leader of his family, and desired all his children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren to know Jesus as their Savior.
Loving to travel, Derald and LaVonne took many vacations all over the United States, and some to Europe. They loved camping together with their children, and in later years, their grandchildren. Throughout his life, he had many hobbies including: photography, golfing, woodworking, gardening, reading, genealogy, and driving his grandkids to school every day. He devoted much of his time watching his nine grandchildren compete and perform various events.
He was always present, always supportive, and loved his family well.
Cherishing his memory and mourning his passing are his wife LaVonne; children, Michael (Betty) Walter, Cathy (Douglas) Uecker and Julie (Paul) Wynia; grandchildren, Adam (Julie) Walter, Aiden, Asher, Aston and Adelyn, Nathan (Janett) Walter, David and Benjamin, Seth (Mara) Walter, Desmond, Burke and Alena, Michal (Mark) Putzke, Ava, Noah and Clara, Brooke (Nickolas) Ortman, Kade, Kaelyn, Karter and Koryn, Ashley (Jason) Lanpher, Jourdan (Taylor) Thill, Jack, Macoy, and Letti, Allison (Jordan) Hintz, Lenna and Declan, and Josh Wynia; Brianna Veurink, Marlee and Emma, Shelby (Jesse) Bobbit. Sisters-in-law Darla Pfann and Carolyn Juhnke, and Brother-in-law Gary (Beverly) Juhnke.
Preceding him in death are his parents Mike and Barbara (Pullman) Walter. Parents-in-law Walter and Florence (McLaury) Juhnke and Brothers-in-law Donald Juhnke and Duane Pfann.
