Obituary for Barry Carpenter
Barry Carpenter, age 67, of Watertown, SD, passed away Thursday, October 17, 2019.
Memorial services will be 2:00 p.m., Friday, October 25, 2019 at the First United Methodist Church in Watertown with Pastor Sara Nelson officiating and Blaire Titze as the organist. Special music by Hank Harris, Kenny Putnam, Boyd Bristow and Mike Connor.
PLEASE NOTE: Following the service, at 3:00 p.m., there will be a Celebration of Life Reception at the ELKS Lodge 838, 600 West Kemp Avenue, Watertown, SD.
Barry was born on January 4, 1952, to Douglas and Donna (Burrill) Carpenter in Mitchell, SD. He graduated from Watertown High School and attended the University of South Dakota after graduation.
He made his living traveling all over South Dakota selling life and health insurance, as well as annuities. He also found extreme happiness as the drummer of the Red Willow Band. They were still performing after 45 years together, being inducted into the South Dakota Rock n’ Roll Music Hall of Fame in 2015. Barry will be sorely missed by his band of brothers and all of their Red Willow fans.
Barry brought the sunshine with him everywhere he went, with a smile so big and a heart even bigger. His brightest smiles came when he was around his kids, who he was always so very proud of. Rachel was his princess and he loved trying to speak and text in Spanish with her. They shared a love for reading and learning. He shared a love of sports with Dustin, or his “Sonny”, whether it was out on the golf course or attending hockey games, and he was always so proud of Dustin’s musical career. Their hearts are broken with this loss.
The Packers have lost their biggest fan, and Barry’s friends have lost a member of their golfing family. He loved bringing goodies and fresh fruit, especially Forestburg watermelon, on the course to share and would never take no for an answer.
Barry was preceded in death by his loving parents; and his brother, Bradley whom he always looked up to.
Barry is survived by his adoring children, Rachel Carpenter of Saint Paul, MN and Dustin (Camille) Carpenter of Saint Paul, MN; their mother, Barb Leitschuh of River Falls, WI; his sisters, Kay (Dennis) Prchal of Vadnais Heights, MN and Lee Ann (Mike) McCallum of Glenwood Springs, CO; his brother, David (Therese) Carpenter of Phoenix, AZ; HIS nieces; nephews; and so, so, many friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Doug & Donna Carpenter Music Scholarship in care of the Arrow Education Foundation, PO Box 730, Watertown, SD 57201.
Arrangements with Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel, www.wightandcomes.com.
Memorial services will be 2:00 p.m., Friday, October 25, 2019 at the First United Methodist Church in Watertown with Pastor Sara Nelson officiating and Blaire Titze as the organist. Special music by Hank Harris, Kenny Putnam, Boyd Bristow and Mike Connor.
PLEASE NOTE: Following the service, at 3:00 p.m., there will be a Celebration of Life Reception at the ELKS Lodge 838, 600 West Kemp Avenue, Watertown, SD.
Barry was born on January 4, 1952, to Douglas and Donna (Burrill) Carpenter in Mitchell, SD. He graduated from Watertown High School and attended the University of South Dakota after graduation.
He made his living traveling all over South Dakota selling life and health insurance, as well as annuities. He also found extreme happiness as the drummer of the Red Willow Band. They were still performing after 45 years together, being inducted into the South Dakota Rock n’ Roll Music Hall of Fame in 2015. Barry will be sorely missed by his band of brothers and all of their Red Willow fans.
Barry brought the sunshine with him everywhere he went, with a smile so big and a heart even bigger. His brightest smiles came when he was around his kids, who he was always so very proud of. Rachel was his princess and he loved trying to speak and text in Spanish with her. They shared a love for reading and learning. He shared a love of sports with Dustin, or his “Sonny”, whether it was out on the golf course or attending hockey games, and he was always so proud of Dustin’s musical career. Their hearts are broken with this loss.
The Packers have lost their biggest fan, and Barry’s friends have lost a member of their golfing family. He loved bringing goodies and fresh fruit, especially Forestburg watermelon, on the course to share and would never take no for an answer.
Barry was preceded in death by his loving parents; and his brother, Bradley whom he always looked up to.
Barry is survived by his adoring children, Rachel Carpenter of Saint Paul, MN and Dustin (Camille) Carpenter of Saint Paul, MN; their mother, Barb Leitschuh of River Falls, WI; his sisters, Kay (Dennis) Prchal of Vadnais Heights, MN and Lee Ann (Mike) McCallum of Glenwood Springs, CO; his brother, David (Therese) Carpenter of Phoenix, AZ; HIS nieces; nephews; and so, so, many friends.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be sent to the Doug & Donna Carpenter Music Scholarship in care of the Arrow Education Foundation, PO Box 730, Watertown, SD 57201.
Arrangements with Wight & Comes Funeral Chapel, www.wightandcomes.com.