Stanley Bennett Kruse passed away on May 31, 2017, at the age of 94. He was born on February 20, 1923, on a farm near Dimock, South Dakota to Helge and Sarah (Bennett) Kruse.

He lived in Parkston until 1929, at the age of six when they moved to Batesland. He graduated from Batesland High School and went on join the Navy and served on the Destroyer Escort from 1944-1946 during World War II.

On November 7, 1948, he married Lola Schwarting in Batesland where they would farm for the next ten years. In 1949 their son, Brian was born.

While in high school he was employed by the Agricultural Adjustment Act, known as the AAA.

In 1958 he was elected to the AAA committee. After retiring from farming he served as the Agriculture Stabilization and Conservation Director in Pine Ridge for about a year.  They then moved to Belle Fourche where he served as the Soil Conservation Director.  He was then promoted to the District Director position where he served until his retirement in 1986.

Stanley was active in the community, having served as president of the Cosmopolitan Club, a Lion's Club member and a lifetime member of the Belle Fourche Chamber of Commerce.

He and Lola were charter members of the Hope Lutheran Church in Spearfish. After his retirement Stanley and Lola worked with Builders for Christ, a volunteer organization, for four years in five different states helping build churches, schools, and parsonages.

Stanley's hobbies included fishing, hunting, gardening, and snowmobiling. Stanley and Lola also enjoyed wine making and traveling.

He was preceded in death by his parents; two infant children; two sisters; and four brothers.

Stanley is survived by his wife, Lola; son, Ephrem (Ephariel) Peacemaker, Spearfish; sister, Odessa Elwood, Martin, SD; two grandchildren; and a great granddaughter.

Funeral services will be held at Hope Lutheran Church, 913 S. 34th Street in Spearfish on Tuesday, June 6, 2017 at 10:00 am with Reverend Mark Schutz officiating.  Burial will follow at 11:30 am at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.  Military honors will be rendered by the United States Navy Honor Guard and the Belle Fourche Veteran's Honor Guard.