Barney Lesselyoung, 80, of Faulkton, passed away peacefully entering his final celebration, Tuesday, May 30, 2023, at his home surrounded by family and Father Randy Phillips.

In honor of Barney’s wishes, a celebration of life visitation will be held from 4:00-6:00 p.m., Sunday, June 4, 2023, at Luce Funeral Home, Faulkton.

Bernard Harold Lesselyoung was born March 13, 1943, in Faulkton, South Dakota, and was baptized in the Roman Catholic Faith at Olivia, Minnesota. He traveled with his parents, Maurice and Gwen, in South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Saskatchewan, Canada while his father worked on grain elevator construction.

During his awesome lifetime, Barney accomplished many life-challenging achievements starting at the Faulkton Public School in 1949, and ending at Arapahoe College where he completed his Funeral Director Embalmer qualification and became a licensed Funeral Director in 2009.

During his formative youth, he was selected to form a singing group that performed at school and community events. The singers continued to participate in school choirs through their schooling years and Derald Shaw and Barney formed a lifelong friendship.

His early work experience included receiving milk and candeling eggs at Mac’s Produce, setting pins at the bowling alley in the basement of the Legion building, and doing removals for Sorum Funeral Home, enabling him to be the dedicated and dependable man he became.

During high school, he ran track and played football, including playing on the football team that won the CSDC in his senior year of high school.

Following high school, he worked for a year at Mac’s Produce before joining the United States Navy serving during the Vietnam era. In pursuit of his lifelong goal of becoming a mortician, upon high school graduation he applied to the Chicago School of Mortuary Science receiving his letter of admission on the day he was inducted into the Navy.

While in the Navy, Barney attended Medical Corps School in San Diego, California. He transferred to Pensacola, Florida as a hospital corpsman 3 & 2 and was trained as an emergency room technician. He then transferred to Boston, Massachusetts to attend EEG (Brainwave) school. Following completion of the Electroencephalography Technician training at the Naval Hospital, Chelsea, Massachusetts he was awarded Navy Enlisted Classification Instructor.

He was a member of the United States Navy Hospital #12 basketball team, playing teams in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Hampshire, and Maine. Barney was honorably discharged on July 22, 1966.

He attended the University of South Dakota for two years and returned to Faulkton where he worked for Bachmayer Lumber until he was elected to serve three terms as Faulk County Treasurer. He served as chairman of the nominating committee for the South Dakota Association of County Officials for three years.

In 1974 he was united in marriage to Jean Hutchinson. They established their home in Faulkton. Their daughter Jacqueline “Peavine” was born in 1977. The family enjoyed fishing, boating, and gardening at their happy place at Faulkton Lake. The original log cabin at their happy place was remodeled and decorated by Barney and Jean during the last few years.

In 1981 Barney started Lesselyoung Construction which he owned and operated until his passing. While operating his construction company Barney provided the essential function of mail route carrier for the United States Post Office in Faulkton. During his twenty years serving as a mail carrier, he developed many long and meaningful friendships.

He was a member of the Faulkton Fire Department for more than 20 years, in addition to operating his construction company, working for Rausch Monument, and continuing the delivery of mail.

He was the sexton for the Faulk County Cemetery and as a Rausch Monument company representative. He provided a variety of services for burial requirements and dedication monuments for those going to their final celebrations. He was a member of the American Legion for 50 years, meriting the honor of being cited as an outstanding contributor to the programs of the American Legion.

He is survived by his wife Jeanne; daughter: Jacqueline; grandchildren: Cole (Abby and baby arriving in August) and Lily (Glen); sister, Patricia May; brother, Dennis (Tammie) Lesselyoung; and his extended Hutchinson family.

He was preceded in death by his father, Maurice W. Lesselyoung and his mother, Gwen (Gibson) Lesselyoung.

Barney and his family are grateful and very appreciative to the doctors and nurses at FAMC and Conklin Clinic who have cared for and encouraged him through his 3-year battle with MDS, COPD, and heart disease.

Go PACK Go

Memorials in his honor may be directed to the Faulkton Cemetery Association, PO Box 153, Faulkton, SD 57438.

Luce Funeral of Faulkton has been entrusted with Barney’s arrangements.

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