Harold Leroy Schroeder, 91, of Watertown, SD, passed away on Tuesday, October 31, 2017 at the Watertown Care and Rehabilitation Center in Watertown.  His funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, November 4, 2017 at the United Methodist Church in Redfield, SD.  Reverend Marty Toepke-Floyd will officiate.  Interment, with military honors, will follow at Greenlawn Cemetery in Redfield.

Visitation will be Friday, from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m., at Thelen-Hyke Funeral Home in Redfield and one hour prior to the service at the church. Family will be present during this time to accept condolences.  Thelen-Hyke Funeral Home has been entrusted with arrangements.  (www.thelen-hykefuneralhome.com)

Harold Leroy Schroeder was born November 6, 1925 in Lebanon, SD to Henry and Esther (Scheller) Schroeder.  He attended school in Athol, SD.  He lived on several farms during the depression and worked on several farms while growing up.

In November of 1943, Harold enlisted in the army.  He took basic training at Camp Reynolds Texas at Texarkana Infantry and 3282 Ordnance Base Depot Company.  He served in the European theater of operation and was stationed in France in the 3282 Ordnance Depot Company.  He served in the tank maintenance shop and issued supplies to units of the seventh army and first French army.  He was honorably discharged on April 19, 1946.

After his discharge, he became part owner of the Vets Garage in Aberdeen, SD.

He married Mavis Florene Davis on November 5, 1949 in Redfield.  To this union were born two sons:  Rodney on July 19, 1951 and Richard on August 10, 1961.

Harold worked for HJ Martsfield & Son for eleven years.  He purchased the Mobil station and operated that until December 1967.  He went to work for Northwestern Public Service as plant operator.  He worked there for 20 years; retiring in 1987 as senior operator.

Harold loved hunting and fishing and was an avid trap shooter.  He won many awards and was state zone director for the northern zone for 4 years.  Harold was proud to be awarded sportsman of the year in 1993.

Harold served on the Redfield City Fire Department for 10 years.  He was a member of the American Legion for 60+ years, VFW, amateur trapshooting association, lifetime member of the N.R.A. and the United Methodist Church where he served as a member of the board and ushered for 40 years.

Survivors include his wife: Mavis, Watertown; son, Richard (Melanie) Schroeder, Watertown; daughters-in-law:  Deb Schroeder, Minneapolis, MN and Sharon Schroeder, Wessington, SD; four grandchildren:  Stephanie Steele, Rapid City; Dustin (Robbi) Schroeder, Mitchell; Sheldon (Kristen) Schroeder, Huron and Dillon Schroeder, Watertown; and seven great-grandchildren.  He is also survived by two brothers:  Walt (Carolyn) Schroeder, Rapid City, SD and Herb Schroeder, Aberdeen.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one son, one brother and two sisters.