Herbert B. Gatzke was born in DeSart, ND, on April 7, 1930, to Hank and Rocella (Anderson) Gatzke. He was the third oldest of eleven children. He attended New England Public and graduated in 1948. He then went to summer school to become a teacher. He taught in a country school near New England and farmed with his brother Art.

He married Lydia Kamstra in New England, ND, on September 3, 1954. There was a time when he would farm in North Dakota in the summers and then would go to Milwaukee, WI, for the winters so he could drill water wells with his brothers and uncle. In 1966, they returned to the New England area and bought the family farm west of New England. There he farmed, ranched, and drove school bus for several years. Then in 1977, they moved into the town of New England where they continued to farm in North Dakota and South Dakota with his sons. Later they moved their house to Newell where they continued to farm with their sons. As he got older, he was once again the "local school bus driver" for Patrick and Blake.

Herbert B. Gatzke, 83, Newell, died Sunday, December 1, 2013, at Rapid City Regional Hospital.

Survivors include four brothers, Art Gatzke, Pahrump, NV, Darryl (Arlene) Gatzke, Plevna, MT, Ben (Anita) Gatzke, New England, ND, and Gordy (Lorraine) Gatzke, Bismarck, ND; two sisters, Annabelle (Vernon) Fuchs, Bowman, ND, and Barbara (Sylvester) Schneider, Glen Ullin, ND; three sons, Dale (Malinda) Gatzke, Rapid City, SD, Ken (Collette) Gatzke, Dickinson, ND, and Steve (Kathy) Gatzke, Newell, SD; 10 grandchildren, Brandon (Jessica) Gatzke, Belle Fourche, SD, Heather Gatzke, Belle Fourche, Blake (Jordan) Proefrock, Sturgis, Patrick Gatzke and Fiancée, Mackenzi Rogers, both of Vermillion, SD, Aaron (Megan) Gatzke, North Salt Lake City, UT, Debbie (Justin) Whittaker, Belle Fourche, Kristina (Josh) Ray and Melissa Scott, all of California, Heather (Casey) Boggess, Rapid City, and Gabe (Emily) Gatzke, Greeley, CO; 13 great-grandchildren, Spencer Proefrock, Sturgis, Tate Gatzke, Belle Fourche, Trinity Wacker, Belle Fourche, Talon Wacker, Belle Fourche, James Gatzke, Belle Fourche, Kaylee Fettig, Belle Fourche, Lily Whittaker, Belle Fourche, Seth Gatzke, North Salt Lake City, UT, Heidi Steele and Trudi Steele, both of North Salt Lake City, UT, Dalton Scott, Shawna Scott, Braiden Scott, and Megan and Rebeka Ray, all of California; numerous nieces and nephews; and extended family, Lynn and LeeAnn Mauch and family.

He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Lydia Gatzke; daughter, Kathy Neilson; sister, Millie; and three brothers, Robert, Richard and Clifford.

A memorial has been established to the First Lutheran Church in Newell.

Visitation will be from 3:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. on Thursday, December 5, 2013, at Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis.

Funeral services will be held at 1:00 p.m. on Friday, December 6, 2013, at the First Lutheran Church in Newell with Pastor Marcia Brennan officiating. Burial will follow at Hope Cemetery in Newell.

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