John "Dick" Stewart

John R. "Dick" Stewart, age 91, Watertown, SD, formerly of Sisseton, SD, passed away Tuesday, June 6, 2023, at Jenkins Living Center in Watertown.

Funeral Mass will be Monday, June 12, at 10:30 a.m. at St. Peter's Catholic Church in Sisseton with Fr. Gregg Frankman officiating.  Music will be provided by organist Cindy Marohl and vocalist Sandi Jaspers.  The service will be livestreamed on the NE SD Catholic Churches Facebook page.

Burial will be in the Calvary Cemetery, Browns Valley, MN.  Military honors will be provided by the Kit Fox Society. Pallbearers will be Tom Pierce, Stewart Pierce, Laura Olson, Christina Karsky, Nathan Olson, John Henry Stewart, and Kaya Pierce.

Visitation will be Sunday from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. at the church and will continue Monday morning one hour prior to the service.

John Richard Stewart was born March 28, 1932, to Rice A. and Nanny Bell (McWhirt) Stewart at home near Centerview, Johnson County, Missouri.  He attended grade school in Hazelhill Township and graduated from Farmers High School, Warrensburg, MO, in May of 1950.  After graduation, he moved with his parents to Rochester, MN.  That same year he enlisted in the U.S. Army.  He was with the first troops to leave the continental US for basic training in Hawaii.  Dick served in the 5th Regimental Combat Team in Korea earning the National Defense Service Medal.  He was a member of the South Dakota and Minnesota National Guard for 26 years.

On June 4, 1952, Dick was united in marriage to Betty Piechowski at St. John's Catholic Church in Rochester, MN.  Two daughters were born to this union, Linda M. Pierce and Mary E. Olson.  He attended Huron College at Huron, SD, from 1954 to 1958 graduating with his BSN and graduated from the Mayo Clinic School of Anesthesia in 1960.

Dick attended the University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, school of banking from 1970 to 1972.  He was an officer at the Marquette Bank, Rochester, MN, from 1966 to 1978.  He worked for the Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate, Agency Village, SD, from 1978 to 2006.  He was treasurer on the board of directors for the Sisseton Wahpeton Federal Credit Union from 1980 to 2008.  His wife Betty passed away on June 17, 2005.  On December 16, 2006, Dick was united in marriage to Elnora Gubka at St. Catherine's Catholic Church in Sisseton.

Dick was a member of Immaculate Conception Catholic Church Watertown.  He had participated in retreats at Blue Cloud Abbey, St. John's University and Sisseton.

Dick enjoyed traveling and camping.  He loved nature and was a farm boy at heart.  He was a lifetime fan of the St. Louis Cardinals and Green Bay Packers.  He was fortunate to have attended a World Series game at the age of 12 and a Super Bowl game at the age of 64.  He loved Bluegrass and Country music.

Survivors include his wife, Elnora; sister Joyce (Dan) Holcomb; sons-in-law, Rick Pierce and David Olson; grandsons, Tom (Becca) Pierce and Stewart (Brandi) Pierce; granddaughters, Laura Olson and Christina (AJ) Karsky; great-grandchildren, Nathan Olson, Connor and Parker Karsky, Kaya and Kade Pierce, and Addison Pierce; stepchildren, Paul Gubka, Chantel Power, Charlene (Robert) Gerner, Robert (Moni) Gubka, and William (Joanne) Gubka; 11 step-grandchildren; and 22 step-great-grandchildren.

Dick was preceded in death by his wife, Betty; his parents, Rice and Nanny Bell Stewart; brother, Leland Stewart; daughters, Linda Pierce and Mary Olson; and nephews, Edward and Dan Stewart.