Eugene HOMER Parce age 96, of Letcher died Tuesday, October 28, 2014 at Prairie View Care Center in Woonsocket, SD. Funeral services will be 11:00 AM Friday, October 31, 2014 at Letcher Community Church in Letcher, SD. Visitation will be one prior to the services at the Church. Burial will be in Sunset Memorial Cemetery in Mitchell with military rites.

He was born on July 28, 1918 to Frank and Margaret (Parquet) Parce in rural Letcher, SD. Homer grew up on the family farm, helping his father and learning the fine art of farming. Later, he went to school in the Letcher school and graduated from Letcher High School. Later, he went to DWU pursuing a career as a music teacher, but was called away to fight in WWII before he could finish.

Homer served in the Pacific campaign during WWII. He was on a boat heading for Hawaii when when Pearl Harbor was bombed. His platoon was then sent to Australia because the government feared they would be taken over by the Japanese. He served in the band and traveled all over Australia playing for the other troops. At one point, the Queen's Palace was bombed, and the American's entered it and liberated the Queen's piano to serve them in their band. The piano was taken apart and put back together at each engagement, as lots of them were on upper floors of buildings. He served in Manila, the Philippines, New Guinea and Corregidor Island. After the Army, Homer moved back to the home place and helped his father farm.

He played in dance bands and that is where he met his future wife, Norma Jean Stekl. They married in February 27, 1954. He continued to play in the Mitchell Municipal Band and dance bands for many years. In June 2011, Homer went on the Honor Flight to Washington, DC. He got to see all the memorials for all the wars on his short two-day stay. It was a very exciting trip for Homer. Homer loved to play pinochle with all his old friends. Unfortunately, many of them passed away over the years. As his health deteriorated, he had to move to the Prairie View Care Center in Woonsocket, where he spent his last five months. It was the highlight of his week to make a trip to Letcher to play cards at the Senior Citizens Center.

Homer is survived by his wife Norma Jean; children, Larry of Letcher, Gene (Nerissa) of Letcher, Ann Stange of Freeman, Curtis (Liz) of Letcher and Teri (Jim) Edwards of Letcher; fourteen grandchildren and twenty great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; one sister, Marie; two brothers, Irvin and David; two sisters-in-law, Hannah and Gladys; a son-in-law John Stange.