Al Lentz, age 79, of Huron, SD, died Monday, November 16, 2009, in Huron.

His funeral mass will be 11:00 a.m. Friday, November 20, at Holy Trinity Catholic Parish with burial at St. Martin Cemetery and Military Rites by the Huron Veterans Council.

Visitation will be Thursday from 1-8 p.m. at Welter Funeral Home with the family present from 5-7 p.m. with a Scripture and Rosary Service at 7 p.m.; or Friday morning one hour prior to the service at the church.

Aloys Francis Lentz, son of Edmund and Gertrude (Hillard) Lentz, was born on November 6, 1930, in Alta Vista, IA. At a very young age he moved with his family to Emery, SD. He graduated from Bridgewater High School in 1948. Following high school, Al and his father were self-employed gravel haulers.

On November 10, 1950, Al entered the U. S. Navy and served as a machinist aboard the aircraft carrier, USS Valley Forge, during the Korean War. He was honorably discharged on March 20, 1953.

On August 31, 1953, Al married Janice Biever.

Al worked for Northwestern Public Service and after 40 years of service he retired as chief engineer of the gas turbine plant.

Al was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Parish; Knights of Columbus 4th Degree and served as State Deputy for the South Dakota Knights of Columbus from 1985-1987; William Reaves American Legion Post #7; Forrest McMullen VFW Post #1776; and Moose Lodge. He also served as a member of the South Dakota Special Olympics in Huron, of which he was involved from the very beginning continuing through all 27 years of the programs existence.

His many interests included motorcycling, reading, hunting, computers, and the ability to fix anything. He also took pride in all of his work and instilled in his family a strong work ethic. He proudly dedicated many extra hours for the Knights of Columbus events, Northwestern Public Service, and the Special Olympics.

He is survived by his wife, Jan of Huron; 3 daughters, Patricia (Rick) Woolridge of Huron, Jeanne Lentz of Pahrump, NV, and Teresa Gouveia of Valley, NE; 9 grandchildren, Jeremy (Silvia) Buckland, Jennifer Buckland, Nicole (Gerald) Ott, Natalie Woolridge, Jeff Woolridge, Eva Gouveia, Amy Buxton, Danylle Bittenbinder, and Justin (Kari) Soderberg; 1 great grandchild, Simone Guse; 1 sister-in-law, Kathleen Biever of Iroquois; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his brother, Gene Lentz; a daughter, Kim Soderberg; 5 brothers-in-law, Gordon Salter, William Biever, Leonard Jerry Biever, Robert Biever, and John Biever; and 1 sister-in-law, Maxine Biever.