Henry "Hank" C. Westphal

Henry "Hank" C. Westphal, 89, of Aberdeen, passed away Sunday, January 31, 2016, at Avera St. Luke's Hospital in Aberdeen.

Schriver's Memorial Mortuary & Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of local arrangements.

Visitation will be 5-7 p.m., Thursday, February 4, 2016, at St. Mary's Catholic Church, 409 2nd Avenue NE, Aberdeen, with a liturgical wake service, being conducted by Father Michael Griffin, beginning at 7:00 p.m. A time of fellowship and refreshments will follow at the church hall.

A gathering of family and friends will take place from 10:00 a.m. until noon on Friday, February 5th, at Luce Funeral Home, 502 East Commercial Avenue, Gettysburg.

Burial will take place at the Bath Cemetery in Bath, SD, at a later date.

Henry Clarence "Hank" Westphal was born to Clarence H and Margaret (Rausch) Westphal on June 26, 1926 at Gorman, SD. He attended Gorman and Rausch country schools and graduated from Gettysburg High School in 1944. After High School, he farmed with his dad and then moved to his own farm in 1947. He entered the US Army in October of 1952 at Ft Leonard Wood MO.

He married Beatrice "Bea" Rausch on August 30, 1954 in Gettysburg. They resided in Lebanon, MO until Hank was honorably discharged from the Army in October of 1954. Hank and Bea then returned to the farm west of Gettysburg.

In 1959, they moved to Gettysburg. Hank continued to farm and also worked several jobs through the years, including Potter County Assessor, Gettysburg Post Office and Potter County Justice of the Peace.

In May, 1972, Hank and Bea purchased the Gambles Hardware Store. In 1985, they changed franchises to True Value. In 1989, they remodeled the store into the Main Street Mini Mall.

Hank was very active in both church and community. He belonged to countless organizations over the years and held many different offices in these organizations. He and Bea were always there to lend a helping hand wherever needed. Because of their commitment to the community, they were chosen as both Mardi Gras King and Queen and Citizens of the Year in Gettysburg.

Hank was always interested in many different things. He loved to fix everything and was always 'tinkering' and figuring out how things worked. Customers would bring many things to the store in hopes that Hank could fix them. He fixed everything from toasters, to mowers, to large appliances.

He and Bea were able to travel which they really enjoyed. They also loved being with friends and family. They were known for making their own fun! Especially with the special group of friends they attended the Gettysburg Mardi Gras with year after year. In 2002, Hank and Bea moved to Bath, SD where they enjoyed being close to three of their six grandkids. They developed close friendships in Aberdeen while attending pulmonary therapy and various activities of the grandkids. After Bea passed away in 2010, Hank remained active by continuing with pulmonary therapy and visiting with friends at the Senior Center. He was always a bright spot everywhere he went. Always quick to bring up conversation with anyone he met. Hank had a wonderful, warm sense of humor and loved to tell stories of his youth. Hank was a quiet and humble man and a joy to be around. He was so proud of all of his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Grateful for having shared his life are his children: Kathy Solem of Pierre, SD and her husband, Mike Solem of Pierre, SD, JoAnn (Tim) Connell, Thornton, CO, Dan Westphal, Aberdeen, SD and Connie (Todd) Wright; grandchildren: Roseanna (Justin) Ogan, Ft. Pierre, SD, Erin Connell, Westminster, CO, Steve Connell, Thornton, CO, Morgan Wright, Bath, SD, Sydney Wright, Orange City IA, and Leah Wright, Bath SD; great-grandchildren: Maddox and Kadence Ogan and Olivia Gunderson.

Hank was preceded in death by his parents; brothers, Dick and Maynard; and his loving wife Bea.