Theodore Brockel

Theodore "Ted" Brockel, age 89 of Bison, passed away on Saturday, July 30, 2022 at the Fountain Springs Nursing Home in Rapid City.

Service of Remembrance was Saturday, August 6, 2022 at 1:00 p.m. MT at Grace Bible Fellowship in Bison, SD.  Pastors Phil Hahn and Audie Brockel officiated and burial with Full Military Honors followed at the Bison Cemetery.  Visitation was one hour prior to the service.

Theodore "Ted" Brockel was born to Carl and Helen Brockel on July 6, 1933 on the family farm near Bison. Ted enjoyed growing up on the farm with his three brothers and sister. He attended Bison High School for a time before he chose to stay home and work on the farm with his mother and father. 

At age 17, he enlisted in the U.S. Navy and served from 1952-1956. He was assigned to the USS Delta, a repair ship during the Korean War where he worked on electrical motors. After his service in the Navy, he returned home and continued his romance with Loretta Jean Aaker. 

They were united in marriage on November 24, 1956. To this union, five children were born.

Ted and Jean worked on his family's farm building a legacy of raising fine cattle and some of the best crops in Perkins County.  He took great pleasure in working the land and seeing the fruits of his labor.  As he aged and was unable to physically work on the farm, he still enjoyed driving around looking at the fine crops of hay, wheat, and corn often watching field activities from his pickup. Ted loved to stop and visit with a neighbor or friend along the way. 

Ted served on the Bison and Sunshine Bible Academy school boards, National Farmers Organization, Crop Improvement Association, the Gideons and was a lifelong member of the Grace Baptist Church. He was a faithful supporter of SBA, missions, and other Christian organizations. He received the SBA Hall of Fame Award in 2012.

Ted accepted Jesus Christ as his Savior at a young age and later on, he recommitted his life to the Lord and served Him faithfully. Ted always wanted others to know Christ and openly shared the gospel with them. 

Hobbies Ted enjoyed were pitching horseshoes, bowling, fishing and watching sports events on television.  In May 2021, Ted suffered a stroke which made it impossible to continue to live on his own. He lived at Fountain Springs Healthcare Center until his death on July 30, 2022.

Surviving family members include his four daughters and sons -in-law: Peggy & Ridge Veal, Vicki & Phil Hahn, Cathy & Tom Durkin and Janet & Kent LaDue; his sister, Betty Strain; nine grandchildren: Ben, Todd, Penny, Ryan, Allison, Brittney, Bethany, Brian and Mary; fifteen great grandchildren; 2 sisters-in-law, Ramona Brockel and Fern Brockel. He was preceded in death by his parents, his wife Jean (2008), son Carl Vernon (at birth 1965), four brothers, Richard, Leo, Lester & Elmer Brockel; two sisters, Wilma Kruger and Verna Freeman, one sister-in-law, Marilyn Brockel, one brother-in-law, Roger Strain, niece, Stacy Strain,  and nephew Brian Brockel.   

In lieu of flowers, Memorials have been set up by the family to the Sunshine Bible Academy and Grace Bible Fellowship.  Condolences to the Brockel family can be sent through our website at www.evansonjensenfuneralhome.com