Leo Jakob Weyrich, 83, rural Sturgis, died Thursday, July 8, 2010, at Rapid City Regional Hospital.

Leo was born March 11, 1927, on the farm 23 miles east of Sturgis at Volunteer, SD, to Jakob and Margaret (Lorang) Weyrich. He was the 5th of 12 children.

Leo joined the National Guards in 1949. He served in Germany during the Korean War. Leo retired from the National Guards in 1989, reaching Command Sergeant Major in the 109th Engineers. He farmed and ranched on his parents' homestead all of his life.

Leo married Yvonne Williams of Nisland on December 27, 1953, at the Bear Butte Valley Catholic Church east of Sturgis. They raised their two sons, Bruce and Robert "Bob".

Leo sold insurance for Harding Perkins Mutual. He also sold hybrid seeds for several different companies.

Leo served on many committees, was a member of the Good Sam Camping Club, the St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Sturgis, and the Knights of Columbus. Leo was one of the founders of the Western Dakota Antique Club. He enjoyed restoring old tractors. He also was a Meade County ASCS committee person and chair, was a spot-checker for fields and grain bins for the ASCS (FSA), was Meade County Weed Board President, a SD Weed and Pest Commission member and chairman, a Lifetime Member of the American Legion and VFW, and was a 4-H leader and contributor.

He is survived by his wife of 56 years, Yvonne of Pierre; his sons, Bruce and Darci Weyrich of rural Sturgis, and Robert and Jennifer Weyrich of Pierre; his grandchildren, Laura Weyrich of State College, PA, Keith Weyrich of rural Sturgis, Krista Weyrich and fiancé, Joey Kirst, and their daughter, Aubree May, of Rapid City, Nick Weyrich of Brookings, and Taylor Weyrich of Pierre; three brothers, Vic Weyrich, Sturgis, Paul Weyrich, Newcastle, WY, and Frank Weyrich, Yoder, WY; and four sisters, Louise Christenson, Mitchell, SD, Gladys Brown, Vale, SD, Helen Komes, Sturgis, and Dorothy Dunn, Vale.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two infant sisters, Alice and Gertrude; and two sisters, Clara Knutson and Mary Roessr.

Visitation will be Sunday from noon until 9:00 p.m. at Kinkade Funeral Chapel. A vigil will begin at 7:00 p.m. at the funeral chapel.

Mass of Christian burial will be held on Monday, July 12, 2010, at 10:00 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Sturgis with Father Arnold Kari officiating. Burial will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis with military honors provided by the Sturgis Veteran's Honor Guard.

A memorial has been established to the Western Dakota Antique Club.