Obituary of W.T. Welchert

William T. “Ted” Welchert was gifted to us October 16, 1925 and he returned to his creator Feb.2nd, 2013. He was born in Montrose, South Dakota the oldest child of Henry Florenz Welchert and Mary Henrietta Marx. At 10 he was mowing hay with a horse drawn mower, following his uncle's team and in front of his father team. Ted left home to be a farm hand at the age of 13 and assumed the responsibility of caring and helping to name his 5 brothers and 7 sisters. He was heavily inspired by his 8th grade teacher. Ted served as an orderly to Admiral Woolridge a board the USS New Jersey during World War II participating in enemy action on 7 different occasions. We owe such a debt of gratitude to this generation for their sacrifice and contributions to America. He went on to complete his degree in Agricultural Engineering at South Dakota State University. In 1950, he married Rose Marie (Paradeis) who remains witness to their joy. Following his graduation he worked for SDSU before accepting a job as the Agricultural Extension Agent for the State of Arizona. He, like many of us, developed a love for Wildcat Sports. A Master's Degree and 8 children later he found himself himself the developer of the world's largest dairies of the time and the author of more than 14 articles related to dairy production and horizontal well drilling. He was a 'neighbor to the world', designing milking parlors in Mexico, Saudi Arabia, Saint Crouix, Oman, Rwanda, and in the United States. He also served with USAID in Lesothu, South Africa as a range management specialist. His children include: Marion Rose Garcia,deceased,(Jose I. Garcia, III), Janice Marie, Michael Lawrence (Gayle Torgerson), Kathleen Louise (David DeValk), John Francis (Sara Elizabeth Gladden), Therese Marie (John Michael Delaney), Patrick James (Sara Marie Van Horn). He leaves 23 grandchildren and 7 great grandchildren. Ted has lost 5 of his brothers and 3 of his sisters. We have lost him. Gone is his body, but not his spirit; his hands; but not his work, his heart, but not his love. Thank you for being a part of life. Take care of those you love and those who love you, life is short.