Walter H. Prahl, age 92, of Murdo, died Monday, May 23, 2005 at the Kadoka Nursing Home.

Walter H. Prahl was born November 4, 1912, near Vera, South Dakota, the son of Rudolph and Dorthea (Kettelsen) Prahl. He was baptized on November 20, 1912 ,at Draper, South Dakota. Walt grew up in the Vivian area.

Walt was united in marriage to Mabel Ainslie on January 1, 1935, in Valentine, Nebraska.

They made their first home east of White Clay, Nebraska where they resided until 1936 when they moved to the farm southwest of Vivian. Later they purchased a farm in Mellette County east of Westover. In 1945 they moved into Murdo where they owned and operated the Skelly Service Station until 1956, when they purchased the Gem Hotel and also owned and operated the King Koin Laundromat. During this time he also owned and operated Prahl Trucking.

The laundromat and hotel were sold, and in 1978 Walt and Mabel retired to their home on Lincoln Avenue, but Walt continued with his dirt work and also got into bee keeping.

Walt was very active in the Murdo community. He was a member of Messiah Lutheran Church, holding several offices. He was a member of the Murdo Volunteer Fire Department from 1946 to 1986. He was a charter member of the Murdo Lions Club in 1957 and helped established clubs in Midland, Philip, White River, Presho, Kadoka and Hill City. Walt served as President of the Murdo Club in 1963-1964. He received numerous awards in his forty-seven years in the Murdo Lions Club including being inducted into the South Dakota Lions Hall of Fame in the1990-1991 year. To many he was known as Mr. Lion, promoting community involvement and the work the Lions do with Sight and Service. For several years he served as the Justice of the Peace. Another interest of his was square dancing. He called square dances for several years traveling extensively into Nebraska and to the eastern part of South Dakota. He also served as the Mayor of Murdo. In his desire to make Murdo a better place, he was involved for several years in the Highway 83 Association promoting Murdo as a stopping place between Canada and Mexico for both tourist and trucking.

Grateful for having shared his life are his five children, Katherine Patterson and her husband Paul of Draper; Carolyn Manke and her husband Lawrence of Midland; Evelyn Roghair and her husband Lawrence of Murdo; Fred Prahl and his wife Katherine of Lake Norden, South Dakota; and Carl Prahl and his wife Eevi of Sioux Falls; eighteen grandchildren; twenty-six great-grandchildren; a host of other relatives and friends.

Walt was preceded in death by his wife Mabel on December 22, 2001; one great-granddaughter; his parents; one brother and four sisters.

Visitation was held 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. CDT on Friday, May 27, at the Messiah Lutheran Church in Murdo, with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m.

Funeral services were held 10:30 a.m. CDT Saturday, May 28, at the Messiah Lutheran Church, with Pastor David Brinkmeyer and Pastor David Otten officiating.

Interment was in the Murdo Cemetery.

Rush Funeral Home of Philip was in charge of arrangements.