Russell Wirt

Russell C. Wirt   Parker.  Russell Charles Wirt, 86 died Monday, April 7, 2014 at Tieszen Memorial Home, Marion.  Funeral services will be at 10:00am Tuesday, April 15, 2014 at the First Presbyterian Church, Parker with burial in Rosehill Cemetery.  Visitation with family present will be from 5-7pm Monday at the church with a Prayer Service at 7:00pm.  Arrangements by Hofmeister Jones Funeral Home, Parker.   Russell Charles Wirt was born on March 8, 1928 at a farm near Parker to Joseph and Florence (Brown) Wirt.  He lived and worked on farms his entire life and was active in 4-H with swine and sheep projects.  He had an avid interest in sports, participating in basketball, football and track at Parker High School.  After graduating from high school in 1947, Russell attended South Dakota State University in Brookings where he played intra-mural basketball and lettered in track.  Also a member of Ag Club, Alpha Zeta, Blue Key, Block and Bridle, Little International staff, and the Livestock Judging Team.  He also worked in the school cafeteria, babysat and spent summers shocking grain and doing other farm work to fund his education.    Having a life-long passion for quality livestock, Russell graduated from SDSU with an animal science degree in 1951.  From 1951-1953 he served in the US Army in Korea, and returned eager to pursue his dream to build a family farm.  On August 8, 1954 he was united in marriage to Bonnie Lea Chester of Parker at the Little Brown Church in the Vale.   Russell actively participated in South Dakota Pork Producers Association and South Dakota Duroc Association, and exhibited his hogs at the Turner County Fair, the South Dakota State Fair, the National Barrow Show, and other fairs and shows in the midwest.  He was a Turner County 4-H Leader for many years, served on the SDSU Alumni Board, named 1988 SDSU Agriculturist of the Year, and was a member of the First Presbyterian Church in Parker.        Grateful for having shared his life are his wife Bonnie; 4 children, Randy (Chris), and Andy, all of Parker, Gayli (Dennis) Heiman, Pleasanton, CA, and Robin (Gary) Stoebner, Tripp; 8 grandchildren, Adam (Melissa) and Sarah (Travis) Baloun, all of Lennox, Katie Wirt, Rochester, MN, Caley (Lindsey) Heiman, Turlock, CA, Jaimie Heiman, San Jose, CA, Emily Stoebner, Sioux Falls, Hannah and Chase Stoebner, Tripp,  and 4 great grandchildren, Jovie and Emerson Wirt, and Braelyn and Brysen Baloun; and a sister in law, Vida Wirt, Henderson, NV.  He was preceded in death by his parents, and brothers Arlie, Eldon (Glendol), and Dale.    In lieu of flowers memorials may be directed to SDSU Little International trophy fund or the First Presbyterian Church, Parker.