Richard "Dick" Lepke, age 69, of Mitchell, SD died Tuesday, January 22, 2013 at Doughtery Hospice House in Sioux Falls, SD. Funeral services will be 1:00 PM Saturday, January 26, 2013 at Zion Lutheran Church with burial at Servicemen's Memorial Cemetery. Visitation will from 6:00 PM to 8:00 PM Friday, January 25, 2013 at the Will Funeral Chapel with a prayer service beginning at 7:00 PM. Richard Allen Lepke was born May 16, 1943, in Mitchell, S.D. to Ted and Evelyn (Anderson) Lepke. Dick graduated from Mitchell Public Schools in 1962. He briefly attended college and then joined the Army and was trained as a helicopter pilot in 1964. He completed a tour in Vietnam and later returned to Ft. Rucker, Alabama in 1968, where he was assigned as an instructor pilot. On October 26, 1968, he married Donna Jean VanLaecken at Zion Lutheran Church in Mitchell. They began their lives together in Alabama for the next two years as they continued his active service in the Army. Upon his Honorable Discharge from Active Duty, Dick continued his long military service when he joined the South Dakota Army National Guard in Mitchell, while at the same time he tried his hand at farming in the local area with his uncle Walt. After two years of farming, Dick was hired to serve full-time with the National Guard as a Technician, first in Huron, for a period of four years, and the remainder of his time with the Army National Guard was served as a Technician in Mitchell. Dick retired from military service in May 2003 as a Chief Warrant Officer with 38 years of faithful service to his country. During his life Dick enjoyed traveling throughout the country with the South Dakota National Guard State Rifle and Pistol Team. Additionally, he was an avid hunter, golfer, fisherman, and card player. Later in life, he also loved to travel with Donna, visiting family and many popular vacation destinations. Grateful for sharing his life are his wife Donna of 44 years. Three sons, Scott (Sarah), son Matthew of Custer, SD, Jade (Catherine), son Grayson of Omaha, NE and Allen (Amy) daughters Taylor and Claire, step grandchildren Mason, Tanner, Quinn, and Tate of Mitchell; sister Carol (Marvon) Johnson of Fargo, ND. Preceded in death by his parents Julius "Ted" and Evelyn Lepke, and Granddaughter Anna.