Elmer Bernard Hinricher, 98, of Flandreau, SD passed away Monday, July 11, 2022 at the Avera Flandreau Hospital. Elmer was born December 26, 1923 at Dell Rapids, SD to Frank and Helen (Reistoffer) Hinricher. He attended Loiseau Country School, 5 miles south of Colman, SD, and then farmed with his dad before going into the Navy in October 1942. After completing radar and sonar training, he was a 3 ^rd Class Seaman on the USS John Rogers, a destroyer during WWII. During the war he was at every island in the South Pacific including Iwo Jima and Okinawa. After his discharge in December 1945, Elmer returned to farm near Colman. Elmer married the love of his life, Elizabeth (Betty) Hoffmann, on February 17, 1947 in Sleepy Eye, MN. They lived and farmed in Colman from 1947 to 1949 and then bought a farm in the Flandreau area and continued to farm there until he retired. They moved into Flandreau in 2003. Elmer is a member of Ss. Simon and Jude Catholic Church, Egan American Legion, past president of Egan School Board, church council, and the Clare Township Board. He was also secretary of Moody County NFO and a member of the Flandreau Golf Association. Elmer farmed all his life and enjoyed raising crops, livestock and his children.

Elmer is survived by five children, James F. (Marlys) Hinricher, Flandreau; Richard L. (Pat) Hinricher, Sioux Falls; Mary A. (Joe) Schwebach, Flandreau; Patricia E. (Neil) Friedrichsen, Ojai, CA; Lois Johnson, Milford, IA; 12 grandchildren, 11 great-grandchildren; siblings, Omer Hinricher, Lakewood, CO; Evelyn Wienacht, Dell Rapids; and sister-in-law Eva Hinricher, Carroll, IA. Elmer was preceded  in death by his wife Betty (12/30/2019), daughter Sharon Nygard, parents, 1 great-grandson, brothers, Norbert, Robert (Charlotte), Andrew, brother-in-law Michael Wienacht and sister-in-law Bernice Hinricher.

Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:30 Friday, July 15, 2022 at Ss. Simon and Jude Catholic Church, Flandreau, with burial in the church cemetery. Visitation will be Thursday from 5:00 – 7:00 pm with a 7:00 pm scripture service at Skroch Funeral Chapel, Flandreau.