Walter Eugene Hein, Sr., age 79, of Blunt, SD, and formerly of Huron, died Monday, August 30, 2004, at Maryhouse at Pierre. His funeral service will be at 10:00 AM Friday, September 3, at the Welter Funeral Home with Pastor Jenene Earl officiating. Burial will be at Restlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery with Military Rites by the Huron Veterans Council. Friends may call Thursday afternoon and evening and Friday morning until time of service at the Welter Funeral Home. The family will be present from 7:00 to 8:30 PM Thursday evening at the funeral home. Walter Eugene Hein was born on June 16, 1925, to Edwin and Genevieve (Kast) Hein at Wolsey, SD. As a small child he moved with his parents to Artesian, SD. After completion of his formal education he farmed for other farmers in the area. He entered the U.S. Army on November 11, 1950 and was stationed in Germany. He was honorably discharged on November 11, 1952. On November 6, 1954, Walter married Verna D. Kleinsasser at Pipestone, MN. The couple moved to Hitchcock where they lived for a short period of time, then moved to a farm southwest of Huron. He farmed and also worked for various businesses in the Huron area including Bales Continental Commission and Magness Livestock Market. In 1976 he officially retired and moved to Clear Lake, SD, where he worked for SoDak Gardens and farmers in the area. His wife, Verna, died on December 27, 1994, and he moved to Blunt to live with his daughter, Deanna, and family. He was a resident of Maryhouse at Pierre for 1 week prior to his death. He was a member of the VFW at Milbank at Pierre. He loved every moment that he could spend with his grandchildren and great grandchildren, especially watching the younger ones play T-Ball and Pew Wee baseball. In addition, his many interests included gardening, working with animals, doing fencing for area farmers, watching wrestling on television, playing cards and checkers. He is survived by 1 son, Walt (Joanne) Hein, Jr., of Wessington Springs; 3 daughters, Deanna (Bill) Krell of Blunt, Vicky Wickherst of Laverne, MN, and Pennie (Rob) Lutz of Bruce, SD; 10 grandchildren; 9 great grandchildren; 2 brothers, Louis (Becky) Hein of Fedora, SD, and Edwin Hein, Jr., of York, NE; 2 sisters, Ruby (Loren) Roth of Renton, WA, and Gert Hein of Artesian; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Verna; 3 brothers, Fred, Robert, and Gustav Hein; 2 sisters, Edna Teske, and Doris Devine; 1 sister-in-law, Beulah Hein; and 2 brothers-in-law, Albert Teske, and Ray Devine.