Allen R. Barthel

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Allen R. Barthel, 73, of Ward, SD, passed away Sunday, January 13, 2019 at Avera Flandreau Hospital.

Allen was born July 14, 1945 in Flandreau, SD, to Clarence and Mae (Meyer) Barthel. He was baptized, confirmed and married at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Ward. Allen received his education at Moody County country schools, Verdi, MN, and graduated from Flandreau High School in 1963. He entered the Pipestone National Guard in 1963 and went active duty in the U.S. Army from March 5, 1964 to September 4, 1964. He was discharged from the National Guard in December 1969. Allen married Marlys Blum November 19, 1967. He farmed in the Ward area all of his life with his dad and brother and later with his son. Farming was his job, his hobby and his life. He also worked at Elkton Mushroom and Case IH in Brookings. Allen and Marlys ran the concession stand at ball games in Elkton from 2008-2017 until Allen was diagnosed with lung cancer in February 2018. Allen was a lifetime member of Immanuel Lutheran Church in Ward, was a longtime chairman of the congregation, sang in the church choir and was a Sunday school teacher. He played baseball and slow pitch, bowled a mean strike, loved to watch football and car racing on TV, snowmobiling with friends, going to the kids’ and grandkids’ ballgames and loved his family. Allen looked forward to the annual Meyer 4th of July family reunion and chatting with customers at the family fireworks stand.

Allen is survived by his wife: Marlys; son: Paul (Deb) Barthel, Ward, SD; daughter: Alison (Michael) Barthel Jacobson, Omaha; four grandchildren: Shane (Cindy), Brandon, Kelsey, Justin; two step-grandchildren: Anne (Jacobson) Ramos and Charlotte (Jacobson) Peterson and their families; two great grandchildren: KodaKae and Blaine; three step-great grandchildren: Katty, Sean, Tiffany; brother: Clair, Ward, SD; two sisters-in-law: Jolene (Ralph) Trageser, Verdi, MN and Janelle (Terry) Nelson, Elkton, SD, and many nieces and nephews. Allen was preceded in death by his parents, grandson Kaleb (2002) and sister-in-law Carol Barthel.

Funeral services will be 2:00 p.m. Thursday, January 17, 2019 at Immanuel Lutheran Church, Ward, with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation will be 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. Wednesday at Skroch Funeral Chapel, Flandreau. www.skrochfc.com