“Everyone has a friend during each stage of life. But only lucky ones have the same friend in all stages of life.”
Duane Struck, better known as Butch, died in June, leaving no one to tend to his 500-acre farm. So when it came time to harvest, the state of his farm was unknown.
Thankfully a group of farmers stepped up and willingly harvested more than 500 acres of corn.
“He had a little over 500 acres of corn we’re taking out for him today. There’s 14 combines, probably that many trucks and grain carts out combining for him today,” friend Jeff Kapperman told KELO.
Butch, born and raised in South Dakota, died on June 25, 2022, according to his obituary.
He spent the majority of his life on a farm, only taking a break for 30 years when he and his wife Bonnie owned and operated their own oil company.
They then moved their family to the farm where Butch’s love for agriculture continued to grow.
As a previous mayor of Humboldt, member of the township board, and volunteer for the fire department, Butch was well known within the community.
His death came as a shock to many in the small town.
Never in anyone’s wildest dreams did they think Butch wouldn’t be around to harvest the crops he had planted in the spring.
So when it became known that Butch’s farm was in need of help, countless farmers arrived with their machinery ready to get to work.
In fact, so many people showed up that some had to be turned away.
“Butch was everybody’s friend. Whenever anybody needed something, Butch was there to do it; I mean, no questions asked. He showed up,” Kapperman said.
“He was my best friend and more than once when I was having difficulty or had some problems of my own Duane showed up to help me so he just. We talked just about every day and it was really a shock when he passed away but we all hope he’s in a better place.”
Now that’s what I call friendship. I hope when I die my community shows up for my family just as Butch’s friends showed up for him.
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