Cletus Joseph Stemper, 86, of Zell, SD, passed away peacefully at home on Saturday, August 19, 2017.  Mass of Christian Burial will be 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, August 23, 2017 at St. Mary's Chapel in Zell. Reverend Tom Anderson will officiate.  Burial, with military honors, will follow at St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery in Zell.

Visitation will be Tuesday, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., at Thelen-Hyke Funeral Home in Redfield, SD.  Family will be present  to accept condolences beginning at 6:00 p.m.  A Scriptural Prayer Service and Rosary will begin at 7:00 p.m.  Thelen-Hyke Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements. (www.thelen-hykefuneralhome.com)

Cletus Joseph Stemper was born July 3, 1931 in Zell to Peter and Anna (Jandel) Stemper and lived in rural Zell his entire life.  Cletus proudly served with the U.S. Army and was honorably discharged in 1954.  On October 28, 1954, he married the love of his life, Maxine Appel, in Redfield.  They were blessed with six children:  Kathi, Bill, Dennis, Dorrine, Peter and Nancy.

Farming is what he loved and he spent his life working the land.  He loved spending time with his family and sharing the farming lifestyle with them.  He also enjoyed welding, wood working and hunting.  He was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Church, St. Bernard's Catholic Church, the Knights of Columbus and the American Legion.

Cletus is survived by his wife of 62 years, Maxine, of Zell; his daughter Kathi (Roger) Anderson of Chamberlain, SD and their children: Reed (Kari) Anderson and their son, Jayden; Nathan Anderson; Jaime (Lance) Spears and their children, Dilen, Deion, Devyn and Jaylee;  his son Bill (Tamara) Stemper of Redfield; his son Dennis (Jacki) Stemper of Zell and their daughter, Jessi (Kirk) Whitley and their children, Dawson and Aniston; his daughter Dorrine (Steve) Ellenson of Brule, WI and their daughter Lindsay; his son Peter (Jean) Stemper of Madison, SD and their daughter Katie (Tony) Fiegen and their son, Carson; and his daughter Nancy (Bruce) Blume of Redfield and their children, Lydia, Isabel, Ivan and Lilly.  He is also survived by two sisters:  Marge Aanenson of Glendale, AZ and Leota (Clifford) Jackson of Rockham, SD as well as many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his brother and sister-in-law, Vitalis and Joy Stemper.