Willard Lee Potter

** View Video Tribute Below ** Willard L. Potter, age 82 of Belle Fourche, died Friday, March 3, 2017 at the Fort Mead VA Medical Center in Sturgis. A celebration of Willard’s life will take place 2pm Thursday, March 9th, 2017 at the United Methodist Church in Belle Fourche. Military Honors will be provided by the Belle Fourche Veterans Honor Guard. Visitation will be held 5 to 7 pm Wednesday at Leverington Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche. Interment will take place 11:30 am Central Time, Friday at the Oakridge Cemetery in Seneca SD, followed by a time of fellowship at the Seneca Community Center. Willard Lee Potter was born March 1, 1935 in Faulkton, South Dakota. He was the son of Rolland O. and Hazel (Miller) Potter. Willard grew up on a family farm near Seneca SD and he graduated from the Faulkton High School in 1953. In 1957 he graduated from the South Dakota School of Mines with a degree in Civil Engineering. During the Korean War, Willard served his country in the U.S. Army from 1957 to 1959. Following his honorable discharged he married the girl he met at a Black Hills State track meet in 1954. Her name was Marion Foss and they were united in marriage on June 25, 1960 in Winner South Dakota. To this union was born 2 sons and 3 daughters: Lee, Bruce, Joyce, Reva, and Diann. Following their marriage, Willard worked as an Engineer for many years. His career took the Potter family to several towns, including Selby, Pierre and Aberdeen. In 1997 he retired from the B.I.A. in Aberdeen as the Facilities Manager, and then began working as an Inspector for FEMA. From 1979 to 2010, Willard lived near Warner and following his retirement from FEMA Willard and Marion moved to Belle Fourche where they have lived since. Willard was a determined man who had high expectations. He lived with purpose as it was important to him to contribute in life. He was intelligent and he always wanted to help people throughout his life. He was proud of his family and loved his grandchildren very much. He will be greatly missed. Willard is survived by his wife, Marion of Belle Fourche; sons, Lee (Darla) of Cheyenne WY, Bruce (Laura) of Garretson SD; daughters, Joyce (Dean) Beck of Alexandria MN, Reva (Terry Hoscheid) Potter of Belle Fourche, Diann (Don) Drew of Alexandria MN; 13 grandchildren, Logan and Ruth Potter, Garrett and David Beck, Eliza and Wyatt Potter, Spencer, Nathan, Kendal and Conrad Schreier, Nathan Hoscheid, Erin and Rachel Drew. He was preceded in death by his parents; sister, Adella Martschinske; and brother, Bruce Potter. Celebration of Life 2:00 P.M. – Thursday – March 9th, 2017 United Methodist Church Belle Fourche, South Dakota   Officiant Pastor Bob Duemig   Casketbearers Dean Beck                                               Martin Martschinske Don Drew                                                           Brian Potter Terry Hoscheid                                                 Rolland Potter   Special Music “His Eye is on the Sparrow” Debra Leverington, soloist Judy Howard, pianist Cong. Hymns – “How Great Thou Art”, “Onward Christian Soldiers”, “God Be With You, ‘til We Meet Again”   Interment 11:30 A.M. (CST) – March 10th, 2017 Oakland Cemetery Seneca, South Dakota