PIEDMONT - Alfred "Lefty" Kammerer, 78, Piedmont, passed away Tuesday, Sept. 30, 2008, at his residence.

Alfred Ernest Kammerer was born March 12, 1930, in Rapid City, to J. F. "Fritz" and Kathryn (McNenny) Kammerer. He attended Harmony School, Elk Creek Valley, Piedmont, through the eighth grade and graduated from Rapid City High School in 1948. Lefty was an outstanding athlete at Rapid City High School, and Coach Euclid Cobb nicknamed him "Lefty" in 1945. In a letter from Coach Cobb (1970) Mesa, AZ, Cobb read an article in the Rapid City Journal about Lefty, and wrote, "I guess the name is going to stick to you. You might as well get used to it." S/Coach Cobb. Lefty was awarded an Athletic Scholarship to South Dakota State University at Brookings, which ended rather abruptly when the Blizzard of 1949 struck and he returned to the ranch. Being the third generation of the Kammerer's, he joined his father in raising commercial Hereford cattle. After his father's death, he continued to ranch the remainder of his life. The Kammerer Ranch was often referred to as having "Reputation Cattle," as the family prided themselves in offering the best of commercial Hereford cattle.

Lefty married Shirley Hale of Sturgis, on Dec. 27, 1952, at St. Francis Catholic Church in Sturgis. They were blessed with five children: two sons, Eliot and Brian and three daughters, Jan, Mary Kay and Lisa. Lefty was Chairman of the Meade County Zoning Board, Member of the SD Stockgrowers, SD State-appointed member of the Agricultural Marketing Commission and Life Member of the Elks Lodge 1187 in Rapid City, receiving his 50-year pin in 1994. He was a life-long cattle rancher and resident of Meade County.

Lefty is survived by his loving wife of 55 years, Shirley; his son, Eliot (Cokie) Kammerer, Piedmont; three daughters, Jan Sommars, Loveland, CO, Mary Kay Lemmel, Sturgis, and Lisa Kammerer, Denver; ten grandchildren, Riley (Jimmie) Kammerer, Piedmont, Kelli Kammerer, Rapid City, Tessa (Levi) Bennett, Gillette, WY, Jesse, Chase and Benjamin Sommars, Loveland, CO, Kathryn (Matthew) Mietchen and Jonathon Kammerer, Salt Lake City, UT, and Shea and Alexis Lemmel, Sturgis; three great-grandchildren, Haydan Bennett and Laynee Bennett, Gillette, WY, and Karlie Kammerer, Piedmont; two sisters, Pauline Guffey and Lorraine Kammerer, both of Rapid City; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his loving son, Brian Kammerer; two sisters, Mrs. Clarence (Patricia) Roth and Mrs. Donald (Lianne) Bachand.

Visitation will be from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. today at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis, with the family present from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10 a.m. Friday, Oct. 3, 2008, at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church, with Father Arnold Kari officiating. Burial will follow at St. Aloysius Cemetery.

A memorial has been established to the St. Aloysius Cemetery in Sturgis. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.kinkadefunerals.com.