Lester Konechne, 70, of  White Lake, SD, died Tuesday, November 13, 2007 at Avera Brady Health and Rehab in Mitchell.

Funeral services will be 10:00 am Friday at St. Peter’s Catholic Church, White Lake.  Burial with military rites will be in the Robey Cemetery. Visitation will be 6-8:00 pm Thursday at the church with a scripture service at 7:00 pm.  Arrangements are under the direction of the Bittner Funeral Chapel.

He was born November 19, 1936 at Kimball, SD to Edward and Stella (Rybak) Konechne. He grew up on the family farm and graduated valedictorian from Kimball High School in 1954.  He served two years in the United States Marines Corp. On May 21, 1959 he married JoAnn Overweg in Kimball.  They farmed southwest of White Lake and in 1971 he also began doing custom hay moving. In 1990 he retired from farming but continued living on the farm where he did mechanic and general farm repair.  For numerous years he was employed by the Platte and Corsica Sale Barns.

He was a member of St. Peter’s Catholic Church, honorary member of the Knights of Columbus, Washington Township board member for many years, Robey Cemetery board member and was the area director for the South Dakota Haymovers Association from 1976 to 1986.

He is survived by his wife, JoAnn, six sons: Mike (Estelle) Konechne of White Lake; Marvin (Monica) Konechne of Kimball; Merlin (Jackie) Konechne of White Lake; Gary (Lisa) Konechne of Platte; Roger (Kerri) Konechne of Plankinton; Ron (Jessica) Konechne of Burke; six daughters: Carol (Tom) Schroeder of White Lake; Rita (Gregg) Sly of Stickney; Kathey (Brad) Mutziger of Watertown; Julie (Kevin) Stock of Watertown; Karen (Jim) Zimmerman of Gregory; Jane (Tim) Mehlhaff of Tripp; 39 grandchildren, two great-grandsons, one brother, Phillip (Maxine) Konechne of Kimball; one sister, Dorothy (Duane) Pulse of Salem and a sister-in-law, Elaine Konechne of Kimball.

He was preceded in death by his parents, son Mark, infant son Wayne and brother Ernest.