Arnold "Mike" Spath, 94, Hills, died Sunday, April 19, 2015, at the Tuff Memorial Home in Hills.
A funeral service was Saturday, April 25, at
Renner Lutheran Church, Renner, South Dakota. Burial was at Hills of Rest Memorial Park in Sioux Falls, South Dakota.
Arnold Spath was born Sept. 14, 1920, to Thomas and Lulu (McChristy) Spath in Centerville, South Dakota. The family moved to Sioux Falls, and he attended Washington High School. Mike worked for Western Union when he was a teen to assist his family. He enlisted in the Army and served as a sergeant in the 376th Bomb Group, 514 Squadron in North Africa. He received an honorable discharge in 1945.
On Feb. 28, 1945, he married Audrey Ritter. They had two children, Greg Spath and Gwen Wawers. The family moved to Brookings, South Dakota, where he was in the roofing business with his uncle. In 1958 the family moved back to Sioux Falls, and he built their home in Meadow View Acres. Mike was a finish and layout carpenter for Henry Carlson Company, retiring in 1982. He worked on McKennan Hospital, Gilbert Science Center and Northwestern Bell buildings.
He enjoyed fishing on the Missouri River, camping in his Winnebago, and perch fishing on eastern South Dakota lakes. He loved spending time in his shop. He was known for building the round house in Hills for his son in 1973.
Mike is survived by a son, Greg (Dianna) Spath, Luverne; a daughter, Gwen (Craig) Wawers, Pocatello, Idaho; four grandchildren, Jennifer (Ardell) Van Wettering, Jill (Shawn) Swenson, all of Luverne, Mike (Robin) Spath, Hills, and Gay (Jon) Demaree, Farmington; eight great-grandchildren; a sister, Maxine Horning, Watertown, South Dakota; and a sister-in-law, Donna Gallant, Hills.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Audrey, in 2008; his parents; his parents-in-law, Clell and Ella Mae Ritter; two sisters, Dorothy Jensen and Nancy Markan; and a brother, Thomas Spath.
Memorials may be directed to Hills-Beaver Creek Foundation, Hills-Beaver Creek School District.
Arrangements were by Miller Funeral Home of Sioux Falls, www.millerfh.com.
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