Obituary of Willard Willis Fuerst

Parkston – Willard Willis Fuerst, 94, went to his heavenly home Friday, November 29, 2024 at Avera Bormann Manor.  Funeral service will be Thursday, December 5 at 10:30 am at Parkston Congregational Church in Parkston.  Visitation will be Wednesday, December 4 from 5 to 7 pm, with a prayer service at 6:30 pm, at Parkston Congregational Church in Parkston.  Arrangements by Koehn Bros. Funeral Home in Parkston.

Willard was born April 14, 1930 to Gustave and Emilia (Hanselman) Fuerst in Parkston, SD.  He attended country school near the farm through the 8th grade.  After his schooling, he began farming with his parents.  He was united in marriage to Mary Reiser on April 18, 1951 in Luverne, MN.  Willard entered the United States Army on March 12, 1953 and served during the Korean War until being honorably discharged on December 15, 1959.  During this time, they moved to Puerto Rico where they lived for a year and a half and their first son, Keith, was born.  Upon being discharged, they moved back to the family farm where he resumed farming, which was his life long hobby.  He was a member of Parkston Congregational Church, formerly Salem United Church of Christ and enjoyed playing pool, fishing, hunting and playing cards.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Mary of Parkston; 2 children: Kevin Fuerst of Sioux Falls, SD and Kim (Perry) Bialas of Parkston; a daughter-in-law, Cindy Fuerst of Pickstown, SD; 3 grandchildren, Patty (Bob), Bob and Dustin (Dani); 2 great-grandchildren, Kelsey and Kamille; 2 sisters-in-law, Rose Neugebauer and Dorothy Smith; and a brother-in-law, Ben Reiser.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a son, Keith Fuerst; 5 sisters: Clara Miedema, Olga Rembold, Lorraine Schulz, Velda Pearson, and an infant sister, Lillian Fuerst; a brother, Ruben Fuerst; 4 sisters-in-law, Ardith Reiser, Nancy Reiser, Agnes Neugebauer and Lillian Fuerst; and 9 brothers-in-law, Savin Miedema, Ervin Schulz, Eldridge Pearson, Ruben Rembold, Ruben Neugebauer, Norbert Neugebauer, David Reiser, Edward Reiser and Jerry Smith.