Joe Leutenegger
Joe Leutenegger, age 92, of Mitchell, formerly of Kadoka, South Dakota, died on Sunday, January 26, 2020 at his home in Mitchell.
Joseph Carl Leutenegger, better known as “Joe” by his family and friends, was born to Jacob and Martha (Pluta) Leutenegger on January 19, 1928, in Belvidere, South Dakota. He attended Belvidere Elementary and graduated high school in May of 1946.
On November 26, 1946, he enlisted with the U.S. Navy for four years. When he left home for the first time he went to Omaha, Nebraska and from there he boarded the train and headed to the Naval Training Center in San Diego, California. He went through 16 weeks of training and then 16 weeks of Yeoman training. He was assigned to the U.S. Naval Station at Treasure Island at the electronics school where he was employed in the personnel office. In the fall of 1950, Joe was transferred to the U.S.S. Bon Homme Richard at Bremerton, Washington, and then headed to Japan, Korea, and many other areas. In October of 1951 he returned to Treasure Island and was honorably discharged there on November 16, 1951.
At the age of 23, Joe returned to Belvidere and began working in the Belvidere Bank the following January. Joe was united in marriage to Kathleen Addison on September 9, 1961.
Joe was employed at the Belvidere Bank, was manager at BankWest, and at the age of 55 he decided to buy the People’s Market. He was on the REA Board from 1985-2016. Joe and Kathleen enjoyed many vacations and bus trips with the REA, Affiliated Foods, and BankWest.
Joe’s children and grandchildren have many great memories of the special trips he took them all on…especially to Disney World and a couple trips to Vegas! He was a member of Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Kadoka and Holy Family Catholic Church in Mitchell.
Survivors include his wife Kathleen of Mitchell; four daughters: September (Cory) Kirby of Brookings, Shawna (Richard) Bendt of Kadoka, Shanesa (Wade) Rhodes of Black Hawk, and Starette (Brian) Nash of Mitchell; nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren; one sister Mary Puls of Cleveland, Ohio; and a host of other relatives and friends.
He was preceded in death by one son Shane Leutenegger on May 4, 1992; his parents; and four siblings: Leo Konietzko, Sophie Konietzko, Glendy Rice, and Frankie Rice.
A visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. with a rosary service at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, January 29, at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church in Kadoka.
Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 11:00 a.m. Thursday, January 30, at Our Lady of Victory Catholic Church with Father Tyler Dennis as celebrant.
Interment with military honors will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Friday, January 31, at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis with Father Tyler Dennis officiating.
Arrangements are with Rush Funeral Home of Kadoka.
