David Battcher, age 76, of Arlington and formerly of Gaylord, passed away at his home in Arlington on Wednesday, March 7.
Funeral service was held at Zion Lutheran Church in Arlington at 10:30 a.m. Monday, March 12. Pastor Deborah Dawson officiated. The organist was Bobbi Schauer.
Congregational hymns were “Borning Cry,” “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” and “How Great Thou Art.”
Casket bearers were Mark Bening, John Bening, Richard Luebke, Calvin Luebke, Paul Witte and Michael Mohr.
Honorary casket bearers were grandsons, Alex Battcher, Nolan Battcher, Dalton Battcher, John Battcher and Jaxson Battcher.
A private interment was in Gasow Cemetery, Dryden Township.
David John Battcher was born in Dryden Township on Sept. 21, 1941. He was the son of Elmer and Elvira (Luebke) Battcher. David was baptized as an infant and was later confirmed in his faith as a youth on April 3, 1955, both at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Gaylord. He received his education in Gaylord and was a graduate of the Gaylord High School Class of 1959.
On Dec. 6, 1969, David was united in marriage to Birdine Bellack at American Lutheran Church in Gaylord. The couple farmed in Dryden Township. He was a fourth generation farmer in Sibley County and lived one-half mile from where he was born until four years ago. David and Birdine were blessed with three children. They shared 48 years of marriage.
David was a member of Zion Lutheran Church in Arlington and served on the cemetery board. He was also a member of the Minnesota Milk Producers, Board Member for Bongards and American Dairy Association, Sibley County Fair Board, 4-H, FFA, DHIA and Extension.
David enjoyed farming and his Farmall tractors, traveling, square dancing and collecting antiques and Allis lawn tractors. He liked telling Ole and Lena jokes. He cherished the time he spent with his family, especially his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
David is survived by his wife, Birdine Battcher of Arlington; children, Brenda (Tad) Berens of Sioux Falls, S.D., Blake (Nancy) Battcher of Gaylord, and Terry (Jennifer) Battcher of Fresno, Calif.; grandchildren, Heather (Nick) Hacker, Tiffany Heagy, Ashley Becker (special friend Andy Hill), Alex Battcher, Nolan Battcher, Elisabeth Battcher, Dalton Battcher, Allie Battcher, Kendra Battcher, John Battcher, and Jaxson Battcher; great-grandchildren, Haidyn Weber, Addyson Marozik, Jordan Neidecker, Teagan Neidecker, and Hudson Hacker; sisters, Jeanette (Eugene) Bening of Hutchinson, and Cheryl Moore of Urbandale, Iowa; brother, Daniel (Susan) Battcher of Eden Prairie; sisters-in-law, Beth Witte of Seneca, S.D., Berniece (Werner) Mohr of Hosmer, S.D., Barbara (Joe) Nemick of Lander, Wyoming; brothers-in-law, Wayne (Sally) Rousseau of New Braunfels, Texas; Doug Malchow of St. Louis Park; nieces; nephews,; other relatives; and friends.
David was preceded in death by his parents, Elmer and Elvira Battcher; father-in-law and mother-in-law, Edwin and Grace Bellack; brother, LeRoy Battcher; sister, Virginia Rousseau; sister-in-law, Joyce Malchow; brothers-in-law, Bob Witte and Ron Moore; nephew, Bryan Bening; and niece, DeAnn Witte.
Arrangements by Egesdal Funeral Home in Gaylord. Online obituaries and guest book available atwww.-hantge.com. Please click on obituaries and guest book.