Pete (Dutch) Bult Jr. 89 of rural Wessington Springs died Monday evening June 20th, 2011 at the Avera Queen of Peace Hospital in Mitchell.

Funeral services were Saturday, June 25, at Our Savior's Lutheran Church in Wessington Springs with Rev. Don Grubb and Rev. Sara Olson Dean officiating. Burial was in the Hope Cemetery rural Wessington Springs with military rites by the Wessington Springs American Legion and the South Dakota National Guard Military Honors.

He was born October 8, 1921 in Harrison, South Dakota, to Peter and Annie Bult.

You could usually find him out on the golf course, camping and fishing, or tinkering in his shed building hay bale trailers and yard ornaments.

He loved to dance as long as his knees would allow him.

He loved his family more than anything in the world and was very proud of them.

He served in the 95th Infantry and was one of the Iron Men of Metz during World War II. He was stationed at Camp Swift, Fort Sam Houston, Camp Polk, Louisiana, Camp Cox Comb, California, Desert Center, Indianatown, Georgia and then overseas.

He was a recipient of the Purple Heart, National Order of the Legion of Honor from the President of the French Republic, Bronze Star with the Oak Leaf Cluster, Bronze Star Medal and many other honors.

He married Ruth Brodkorb, May 8, 1946 in Wessington Springs, South Dakota. They lived and farmed west of Wessington Springs most of their marriage.

He is survived by his wife Ruth Brodkorb Bult of 65 years. His children Sharon (Paul) DiCarlo of Middleboro, MA; Marvin (Kay) Bult of Grain Valley, MO; Peggy (Gary) Sprenger of Orient, SD; Vernon (Karen) Bult of Wahpeton, ND. His grandchildren Jason (Mindy) Denham, Ryan (Amber) Bult, Brock (Glenna) Bult, Ranelle Bult, Lacy & Jamie Sprenger, and Jeremy, Danny & Brian Bult. He had five great grandchildren: Caroline & Kaleb Bult, Tori Bult and James & Sophie Denham. He is survived by his brothers and sisters: Jessie Brodkorb of White Lake Nursing Home, Wilma Westerbeck of Yakima, Washington, Anna Mae Pagel of Wessington Springs, Dick (Faye) Bult of Tennessee, Ray (Pat) Bult of Sioux Falls, Don (Janet) Bult of Georgia, Harry Bult of Wessington Springs, sister-in-laws Dora Bult and JoyBelle Bult both of Wessington Springs and Norene Bult of Custer and brother-in-law Bob Arnott of Huron. He is preceded in death by his parents Peter and Annie Bult, sister Adaline Arnott, and brothers Frank, Ed, Roy, Ern and John Bult.

True Dakotan- 7/1/2011