Lonny D. Bickett, age 79, of Mitchell, SD died Sunday, January 24, 2016 at Select Specialty Hospital in Sioux Falls, SD. Funeral services will be 2:00 PM Friday, January 29, 2016 at Trinity Lutheran Church, Mitchell, SD with burial at Graceland Cemetery. Visitation will be from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Thursday, January 28, 2016 at Trinity Lutheran Church.

Lonny Bickett, son of Elmer and Lyla (Wiberg) Bickett, was born October 21, 1936 in Oldham where he attended school and played basketball. At one point all three brothers were in the starting 5 on the team.  As a young man Lonny became involved in the family business, Bickett's Garage. He served in the US Army from March of 1957 to March of 1959. After his honorable discharge, Lonny returned to Oldham.

He was united in marriage with Emily Hieb on June 27, 1964 in Tripp, SD. The couple made their home in Oldham. While in Oldham, Lonny continued in the family business, served as a volunteer fireman, served on the city council, drove school bus and delivered mail. The couple moved to West Union, IA where Lonny was an automotive instructor at a technical school in Calmar, IA. In 1969 they moved to Mitchell where Lonny again was an automotive instructor at Mitchell Vo-Tech until 1997. He taught for 30 years.

He was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Mitchell. Lonny and Emily enjoyed spending time at their lake cabin near Walker, MN and traveling. Their travels took them to Europe, Australia, India, Alaska and the Panama Canal to name a few. Since his youth, Lonny loved everything about cars.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Emily Bickett, Mitchell, SD; four children, Jason (Nicole) Bickett, Carmel, IN, Matthew (Becky) Bickett, Savage, MN, Beth (Cody) Meyer, Plymouth, MN, Holly (Matt Kaczmarek) Yewchuk, Granger, IN; 10 grandchildren, Kathryn Bickett, Taylor Bickett, Andrew Bickett, Lindsay Bickett, Nathan Bickett, Paige Yewchuk, Regan Meyer, Jack Yewchuk, Austin Meyer, Aidan Kaczmarek; a brother, Larry (DeLayne) Bickett, Sioux Falls, SD; a sister-in-law, Maxine Bickett, Sioux Falls, SD; a sister-in-law, Ruby Hieb, Granite Falls,MN; nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Dennis Bickett; a brother-in-law, Leroy Hieb; and a nephew, Terry Bickett.

In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to Trinity Lutheran Church in Mitchell or the Mitchell Salvation Army.