Funeral service for Leland "Butch" Kruse, 67, of Wetonka will be 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, Feb. 6, 2013, at St. Paul Lutheran Church, Aberdeen. Pastor Hyle Anderson and Pastor Brian Idt officiating. Burial will be in the Pembrook Cemetery.
Butch died on Saturday, Feb. 2, 2013, at his home.
Visitation will be on Tuesday, Feb. 5, 2013, from 1 to 7 p.m., with family present from 5 to 7 p.m. at Spitzer-Miller Funeral Home, 1111 S. Main St., Aberdeen.
Leland Kruse, son of Harris and Letha (Angerhofer) Kruse was born on March 30, 1945, in Aberdeen. He was raised on the family farm near Wetonka and attended country school at Pembrook School. Butch went on to graduate from Barnard High School.
Butch enrolled at Northern State College and earned a Bachelor's Degree in Education, graduating in 1969. He made his home in Corsica, where he taught business education classes.
Butch was united in marriage to Beth Gerlach on Aug. 18, 1973, in Dimock. They made their home in Corsica during the school year and returned home to the family farm in the summer months. In 1980, they permanently moved back to the farm, where they raised their family. Butch remained on the farm raising his registered Black Angus cattle until the time of his death.
Butch was a member of the American Angus Association and St. Paul Lutheran Church. He was also a fan of Northern State University basketball. In his free time, he enjoyed hunting and fishing and also enjoyed attending all of his children's activities. Butch was a wonderful husband, father and grandfather and cherished the time he was able to spend with his family.
Grateful for having shared Butch's life are his wife, Beth, of Wetonka; two daughters: Dr. Traci (Amod Damle) Kruse, Marshall, Minn. and Terri Kruse, Aberdeen; one son, Tim (Megan Petersen) Kruse, Ames, Iowa; granddaughter, Anisha Damle; and one sister, Darlene Stenning.
Butch was preceded in death by his parents, Harris and Letha Kruse; father-in-law, Martin Gerlach; and two brothers-in-law: Bruce Gerlach and Frank Stenning.
Spitzer-Miller Funeral Home of Aberdeen is in charge of arrangements.
spitzerfuneralhome.com