Lyle R. Waltner, age 85, of Brookings, died Saturday, March 12, 2011, at Avera McKennan Hospital in Sioux Falls. Funeral services will be at 10:00 A.M. Friday, March 18, at the First Lutheran Church in Brookings, SD with burial and military rites at the First Lutheran Cemetary in Brookings. Visitation will be on Thursday, March 17, at the Eidsness Funeral Home from 5 P.M. to 7 P.M.

Lyle R. Waltner was born on May 31, 1925 to Hulda (Miller) Waltner and Edwin R. Waltner in Freeman, South Dakota. He attended country school and graduated from Marion High School. He was employed in the South Dakota Air National Guard and was activated to the US Air Force during the Korean Conflict. He was deployed to England and worked in aircraft munitions. He met and later married Fern Schoppert on December 31, 1944. They had four children: Paulette, Maureen, Sally and Monica.

Lyle was a diesel mechanic and shop foreman for International Harvester Company for 40 years. After retirement he worked part time at the Edgebrook Golf Course in Brookings until 2010. He served as a reserve police officer for the Brookings Police Department, was active in the National Rifle Association and the community. He was a very active member of American Legion Post 74, the Brookings 40 & 8 Voiture, and his church. He also donated his time and talents to the Domestic Abuse Shelter in Brookings.

Lyle is survived by his wife, Fern, their daughter, Paulette Anderson of Farmington, MN, their daughter, Maureen Heckel and her husband Boyd of Huron, SD, their daughter, Sally Long and her husband Terry of Lewistown, MT, and their daughter Monica Jones and her husband Craig of Huron, SD. He is also survived by 9 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren, two brothers, Dwight Waltner (Norma) of Marion, SD and Walt Waltner (Leslie) of San Jose, CA. He was preceded in death by his parents, and one son-in-law James M. Anderson.