Vernon Winter, age 83, of 21751 368th Ave.,Wessington, SD, died on June 24, 2009 at the Golden Living Center of Covington Heights in Sioux Falls, SD.

His funeral will be 10:30 a.m. Monday, June 29, 2009, at the First Presbyterian Church in Wessington. Burial will be 3:00 p.m. Monday, at Restlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery in Huron, SD.

Visitation will be from 2-8 p.m. Sunday, June 28, at Welter Funeral Home in Huron, with the family present from 5-7 p.m., and a prayer service to begin at 7:00 p.m Sunday night; or one hour prior to the service at the church on Monday.

Vernon Winter, the son of Reinhold and Mileta (Tiede) Winter, was born on October 7, 1925, on the family farm in rural Wessington, SD. He attended school in the Wessington area, and graduated from SDSU Aggie School .

On September 7, 1952, Vernon married Mary Lou Woelpert at Alpena, SD. They lived and farmed in southeast Hand County. Vernon farmed his entire life on the same land he was born on.

Vernon was a member of Rose Hill Presbyterian Church serving as an elder for a number of years. He was a member of the Spring Lake Township School Board. Vernon also served as the clerk for Spring Lake Township. He enjoyed fishing, hunting, and feeding cattle. Vernons family was his life, and he loved to spend time with his grandsons. Vernon was known as a strong Christian by his peers, living his life with humility and dignity.

Grateful for having shared his life are his daughter, Patricia (Doug) Hintz of Bismarck, ND; 1 son, Brian (Jan) Winter of Wessington, SD; 7 grandsons, Vance (Tanya) Winter, Brant Winter, Jay Winter, Jon Winter, Laith (Kristi) Hintz, Kadon (Michelle) Hintz, and Trenton (Heather) Hintz; 5 great-grandchildren; brother, James (Jean) Winter, Snowflake, AZ; sister, Alice Brosz, Wessington Springs, SD; sister-in-law, Ruth Winter, Huron, SD; and several nieces and nephews.

Vernon was preceded in death by his parents; his wife Mary in 2004; his brother, Eldon Winter; and brother-in-law, Melvin Brosz.