Lyle “Pete” Graesser
December 14, 1920 – January 31, 2019
Lyle W. (Pete) Graeser was born on December 14, 1920, on the family homestead near Dallas, South Dakota, to Lue Ray and Eleanor (Whitley) Graesser. He passed away, surrounded by family, at his home near Hurley, Missouri on January 31, 2019, at the age of 98 years.
Pete attended a one-room elementary school near his home and eventually graduated from Gregory High School in 1939. On September 29, 1942, he married his high school sweetheart, Esther Krieger. To this union four daughters and three sons were born.
Shortly after Pete married, World War II broke out and he entered the service and trained as a radio operator on a B-17. He was assigned to the 95th Bomb Group, 33th Squadron, as a radio operator, waist gunner, and bombardier stationed in Horham, England. This bombing group was the only military unit to receive three presidential citations and led the first bombing mission over Berlin, Germany.
After his service in the war, he settled near Gregory, South Dakota. There he farmed and ranched for several years before working at the Rosebud Farmers Union Coop in Gregory. It was here where most of his seven children were born. Pete, Esther, and family later moved to a ranch in Keya Paha County near the Keya Paha River. He also managed the Coop in Springview but was always glad to return to his beloved hills on the Keya Paha near the place where he himself grew up. Here Pete and Esther had a great place to raise their family.
Pete really enjoyed his family, taking them swimming, hiking, picnicking, camping, rock hunting and playing games around the kitchen table. He especially liked and attended all the sports activities the kids were involved in. He assisted with coaching, umpiring, and refereeing games.
In 1991 he and Esther retired to a small cattle ranch near Hurley, Missouri. Here they raised a small herd of cattle, and enjoyed traveling to Silver Dollar City near Branson, Missouri, to listen to gospel singing several times a week.
One of the highlights of his life occurred in 2005 when his son, Lyle, took him to Horham, England for the 95th Bomb Group reunion. While on this trip, Pete also visited Tournai, Belgium where his plane and crew crashed during WWII, losing the pilot and co-pilot. Pete was the first American airman to return following the war and he received a hero’s welcome by the people of Tournai.
Pete was preceded in death by his wife, Ester (Krieger) Graesser; parents, Lue Ray and Eleanor Graesser; brothers, Earl, Kenneth, Virgil; sisters, Inez and Maxine; son (Lyle); daughter (Linda); and grandson (Stanley Earl).
Surviving are three daughters: JoAn Keeler and Dennis Osbourn, Franktown, Colorado; Mary Jane and Jerry Kraemer, Clever, Missouri; Ellen and John Morris, Stocton, Missouri; and two sons: Lue and Debbie Graesser, Fairfield, Nebraska; Gary and Vicki Graesser, Ainsworth, Nebraska. Also surviving are 18 grandchildren, 42 great-grandchildren and 6 great-great grandchildren.
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Funeral services were held for Lyle “Pete” Graesser, 98, of Crane, MO, on Monday, February 11, 2019 at 10:30 a.m. at the United Methodist Church in Gregory, SD with Pastor Kenley Udd officiating. A visitation was held Sunday evening at Kotrba Smith Funeral Home.
Music was provided by Steve Swanson, pianist. Trio Kenley Udd, Steve Swanson, and Geoff Smith sang “In the Garden” and “Because He Lives.” Congregational hymn was “The Old Rugged Cross.” Geoff Smith sang “Amazing Grace, My Chains are Gone.”
Cindy Vaughn and Louise Travers were in charge of registration.
Flower attendants were Cheryl Grant, Christy Shoudis, Kathy Emerson, Laura Simpson, Donna Robertson, Leah Graesser, Karrie Graesser, Marci Delimont, and Anna Kietzman.
Casket Bearers were Andrae Graesser, Mike, Morris, Isaac Graesser, Anthony Graesser, Nick Snider, Roman Graesser, Artur Graesser, and Max Keeler.
Military honors were given by the Gregory American Legion and the Air Force Honor Guard.
Interment was in I.O.O.F. Cemetery, Gregory, SD.