Walter Tetrault, 95 of Spearfish, passed away on October 11, 2011 at Burr's Tender Care Assisted Living in Spearfish.

Visitation will be from 2:00-5:00 P.M on Tuesday, October 18, 2011 at Fidler-Isburg Funeral Chapel. Vigil Service at 7:00 PM at Saint Joseph Catholic Church.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 AM, Wednesday, October 19, 2011, at Saint Joseph Catholic Church with Father Tim Hoag as celebrant. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery. Memorials have been established to benefit Northern Hills Training Center and High Plains Western Heritage Center.

Walter John Tetrault, youngest child of Stanley and Alma (Demers) Tetrault, was born on June 24, 1916 in a prairie home, miles from nowhere, west of Hoover, SD. The family moved to Spearfish in December of 1918 in a Model T Ford. Walter attended Spearfish Normal School graduating in 1934. He attended college at BHTC and CSU until his father's health failed and he returned in 1937 to take over the farm. While in college he received his pilot license. In 1940 he married Sarah Nicholas, from the Crow Peak area. They had their only child, Terry, who died shortly after his birth. Walter saw many changes in the 60 plus years of farming his homestead north of Spearfish. The hail storm of 1946 changed his farming methods and he started planting winter wheat and alfalfa in the fall and irrigated potatoes and sweet corn in the summer. In 1947 a tornado hit Spearfish Valley and took out 56 large spruce trees along Highway 14, his apple orchard, roof off of his house and some small buildings. That fall was the perfect time to expand his yard, remodel the house and planted his beautiful flower garden, which was enjoyed by everyone for years to come who traveled down Hwy 14. In 1998 Sarah passed away and Walter later sold the farm.

Walter served as a board member of the Lawrence County Soil Conservation District, and Federal Land Bank for the counties of Harding, Butte and Lawrence, an extra in the Black Hills Passion Play, a member of St. Joseph Catholic Chuch, and longtime volunteer at the High Plains Western Heritage Center.

Walter is survived by his nephews; Ed Baker and Dean Baker, nieces; Melonie Daugherty and Beverly Hudson, sister-in-law Arlene Nicholas, a large extended family and a host of friends. He was preceded in death by his wife Sarah, infant son Terry, parents, and sisters Mabel and Florence.