Alfred Leonard Hutchinson, 80, of Spearfish, SD, passed away peacefully Tuesday, April 17, 2007 at the David M. Dorsett Regional Senior Care in Spearfish.

Visitation will be Sunday, April 22, 2007 at Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapel in Spearfish from 5:00-7:00 PM.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30A.M., on Monday, April 23, 2007 at the United Methodist Church in Belle Fourche, SD, with Pastor Kip Roozen officiating. Burial will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, SD, with full military honors provided by the Sturgis Honor Guard.

A memorial has been established to benefit the Special Care Unit at the David M. Dorsett Regional Senior Care in Spearfish.

Alfred Leonard Hutchinson was born May 17, 1926 in a small house in Wheatland, WY to Robert S. and Alva (Lindstrom) Hutchinson.
The family lived in and around Wheatland until Alfred was in the fifth grade. The family then moved to Lander, WY where Alfred's dad bought a saddle shop, (Bob's Shoe and Saddle Shop). Alfred attended high school in Lander for a couple years. He worked in the saddle shop after school. He started working full-time in the saddle shop in his sophomore year. He learned to make saddles and became a fine leather craftsman. Alfred acquired many of his stamping tools from saddle makers who worked for his father.
In 1943, the family moved to a ranch on the Stillwater River in Absarokee, MT. On December 22nd 1943 he received his orders to report for induction into the United States Army. He received his basic training at Camp Roberts CA. He was then shipped to the Philippines in the fall of 1945 and stationed on Leyle, where he was Technician 5th grade in the Quartermaster Truck Company. He was also assigned to guard Japanese prisoners. He was discharged December 5 1946 at Camp Beale CA. He had served 10 months of Continental service and 1 year, 1 month and 10days Foreign Service.
He joined the family who had moved to a ranch at Banner, WY on Piney Creek. In 1947 the family moved again, this time to a ranch 5 miles east of Aladdin, WY.
Alfred soon met Ruby Robinson, a neighbor gal, who lived east on a ranch in SD. They were married August 22, 1948 at the Methodist Church in Belle Fourche, SD.
They ranched and made their home on the Diamond-X ranch east of Aladdin for 56 years. They raised three boys; Drew Lavern, Michael Dean and Leon Keith.
Alfred was a talented western and wildlife artist. He had always been interested in drawing and painting. In 1970 he studied oil painting under Elva Barker in Sundance, WY. Since then he was a self-taught artist. In his career he had painted over 97 paintings and has won many honors and awards including "Peoples Choice" and "Featured Artist" at the Alzada Montana Poetry, Music and Art Show. He also won many "Best of Show" with his leather work and oil painting at the Crook County Fair.

Alfred became ill in 2004 and he and Rudy moved to Spearfish where he entered Dorsett Senior Care Center.

Alfred is survived by his wife Ruby Hutchinson of Spearfish, three sons, Drew (Judy) Hutchinson of Aladdin, WY, Mike (Janet) Hutchinson of Newcastle, WY, and Leon (Lori) Hutchinson of Spearfish, five grandchildren; Wade, Clay (Jessica), Nicole (Mitch) Mather and Cody and Josie; two sisters, Norma Hendricks of Yelm, WA, and Roberta Hutchinson of Boise, ID, two sister-in-laws, Doreen (Larry) Koopman and Loretta Artus; one brother-in-law, Kent(Barb) Robinson and their children; and special friends Marg and Larry Enke and family.