Alois Michael Vetter Sr.

Alois “Al” Michael Vetter Sr., 83, of rural Summit, SD, passed away Sunday, March 12, 2023, at Avera St. Luke’s Hospital in Aberdeen, SD.

Funeral Services will be 2:00 p.m., Friday, March 24, 2023, at Schriver’s Funeral Chapel in Aberdeen. Visitation will be one hour before the service. Fellowship and refreshments will follow the service at Schriver's Memorial Fellowship Center.

Burial will be at a later date in the spring at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Hague, ND.

Schriver’s Memorial Mortuary and Crematory, 414 5th Avenue NW, Aberdeen, is in charge of arrangements.  Family and friends may sign the online guestbook and also view the service at www.schriversmemorial.com.

Alois “Al” Michael Vetter was born November 7, 1939, in Hague, ND to Andrew and Kathryn “Katie” (Feist) Vetter.  His family later moved to South Dakota. Al joined the Army, served, and was honorably discharged.  Al also owned and operated two dairy farms near Columbia and Frederick. 

Al married Pat Birney on June 16, 1984, in Doniphan NE. The couple bought a ranch near Summit, SD, where they built their life together. Al had a love for animals, especially horses, and dogs. Al and Pat raised Quarter horses. Al trained and raced them as well as owning a cutting horse. Al loved the outdoors, hunting, and fishing, and was always successful at both.  Al and Pat drove a team of Halflinger horses in a covered wagon from Yankton to Pierre at the Quasquicentennial in 2014.

Grateful for having shared Al’s life are his wife of thirty-eight years, Pat; two sons: Mike Vetter of Wolsey, SD, Roger Vetter of Wolsey, SD; three daughters: Donnetta Flores of Wolsey, SD, Anna Lopes of Columbus, NE, and Victoria Vetter of Waverly, NE; one brother Andy (Debbie) Vetter of Hutchinson, KS; four sisters: Berniece Pennington of Aberdeen, Mary Ann (Roger) Hart of Denver, CO, Frances Vetter of Whelling, IL, Betty Applehans of Denver, CO; eleven grandchildren, and twenty-eight great-grandchildren.

Al was preceded in death by his parents; one daughter Kimberly; one son Alois M. Jr., two brothers: Arnold and Leo; and two sisters: Geraldine and Kay.

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