Willard O. Kuhnert, 94

Published by admin on Tue, 10/17/2017 - 1:08pm

Willard O. Kuhnert, 94, of Valley Springs, died Tuesday, Oct. 10, 2017 at Sanford USD Medical Center in Sioux Falls. Private family services will be held.

Willard Oscar Kuhnert was born to Walter and Hattie (Kautz) Kuhnert on July 29, 1923 in Beaver Creek, Minn. He grew up on a farm near Rowena, S.D. Following high school graduation, Willard continued to help farm on the family place. Willard married Darlene Hocke on July 29, 1945 at Beaver Valley Lutheran Church, rural Valley Springs. The couple farmed near Valley Springs their entire married life.

Willard was a member of Beaver Valley Lutheran Church. He loved to play the accordion and had taken lessons from Myron Floren.

He is survived by his wife, Darlene; three children, Carol Skiles, Canton, S.D., Arlen (Janell) Kuhnert, Valley Springs, Connie (Larry) Bliek, Larchwwood, Iowa; eight grandchildren, Chad Skiles, Tiffany (Brenda) Reilly, Shane (Jennifer) Skiles, Devin (Miranda) Skiles, Kyle (Marcia) Kuhnert, Brock (Jenny) Kuhnert, Michael (Lindsay) Bliek, Nicholas (Greta) Bliek; 13 great-grandchildren; and many other relatives and friends.

Willard was preceded in death by a son, Gary Kuhnert; his parents; a sister, Loretta Erickson; and three brothers, Howard, Harold and Orville Kuhnert.