Walter (Buddy) Bracha Sr., 93, of Forestburg, South Dakota went home to heaven on Friday, November 4, 2022, at Prairie View Healthcare Nursing Home.

Funeral services will be at 11:30 AM, Thursday, November 10, 2022 at Will Funeral Chapel. Visitation will begin one hour prior. Burial with Military Rites will be in Calvary Cemetery.

Walter Lawrence Bracha Sr.,was born July 6, 1929 in Parkston, South Dakota, to Anton and Annie (Bruske) Bracha. Buddy and his four siblings grew up in Milltown, South Dakota. Growing up during the Great Depression and World War II taught him the meaning of hard work.

Buddy attended a nearby country school.  On March 8, 1950, he was united in marriage to Lylas (Whitlow) Bracha at Davison County Courthouse. Their early, married life was interrupted when Buddy was drafted into the United States Army.  He was stationed in Germany as a squad leader in a combat engineer company 1951-1953. Following Buddy's military discharge, the family reunited and purchased acreage near Lake Mitchell.  After a few years of farming and construction work, Buddy and Lylas moved their family to Terraville, in the Black Hills. Buddy became employed as a miner at Homestake Gold Mine in Lead, South Dakota.

The family enjoyed weekend exploring the back trails in the Big Horns.  In 1962, after a cave collapsed at the mine, the work was deemed too dangerous. He moved his family to a house they had been building near the farm of Lylas' grandparents, four miles north of Forestburg. There they settled into farming life and raising, their four children.  He loved everything about farming- whether it was raising small grain crops, corn, and alfalfa, being a dairy farmer or driving his farming equipment.  Buddy was known for his integrity, understanding the value of hard work and being a man of his word.  Family was very important to him and he enjoyed the many visits he received from them.  Whether it was a dropping in on the way home from work or a weekend, summer hang out. Anytime he was able to see his children and grandchildren it was the highlight of his day.

Walter and Lylas shared 53 years of marriage before her death in 2003.  He continued to farm with his son Walter Jr. by his side until he went into Prairie View Nursing home in 2016.

Buddy is survived by his son, Walter Jr. Bracha (Donna) of Forestburg;  daughters, Lillian Puetz (Maynard) of Mitchell; Leonda Doering (Ivan) of Mitchell. 16 grandchildren, Shannon Bracha (Brenda), Jenny Kercher (Rodney), Jeremy Puetz (Lisa), Travis Bracha (Christina), Jamie Grace (Cody), Jason Puetz (Kelly), Luke Bracha (Becky), Joey Puetz (Sonya), Joanie Nutter (Chris), Jake Puetz, Angela Herrick (Travis), Allen Doering, Jessica Banik, Kelly Banik, Trisha Gates, Chris Gates (Helga); 32 great grandchildren; 2 great-great grandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

He is proceeded in death by his wife, Lylas (Whitlow) Bracha; son Wayne Bracha; parents Anton and Annie Bracha; sister Eleanor Walz; brothers  Tony, Richard and Kenny Bracha; infant grandson Jesse Puetz, nephew Kirk Bracha sisters-in-law and brothers-in-law.