Donald "Pete" Schulte, 90, Hartford, SD passed away Saturday, November 8, 2025 at Ava's House Hospice in Sioux Falls, SD.

Visitation with the family present will be from 4 to 6 pm on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, at the Miller Hartford Chapel. A Memorial Mass will be held at 10:30 am on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at St George Catholic Parish with burial at the St George Cemetery.

Pete was born May 5, 1935 in Alexandria, SD. He grew up in the Emery area. In 1953 he enlisted in the Army. He got his G.E.D. while serving 2 years.

He then began his longtime career working for Natural Gas Companies until he retired after 45 years. Pete then started his next full-time job, mowing all of West Central School District properties up until age 88. We will never mow our lawns without thinking of him.

Pete was united in marriage October 5, 1978 to Karen Upton. He had been a bachelor for 44 years and happily accepted the challenge of also becoming a father figure to her daughters Kim and Keely. He learned to expect the unexpected with these two.  It came as no surprise to him when he would receive an inappropriate card or gifts that would make him chuckle and shake his head or blush. He never dreamed this farm boy would be sitting in the baking sun at Keely's softball games, sitting on hard bleachers at her High School basketball games or camping with his wife, 2 girls and 4 of their female friends. He was a trooper.

His hobbies included golfing, wood working and spending time with his 3 grandkids. He and Karen traveled many places, including Germany and surrounding countries, both the East and West Coast, Hawaii and Alaska.

Pete could build or fix almost anything. He was our MacGyver and had the patience of Job. Who knew you should read instructions? He had previously been an avid sports fan of the Boston Celtics, New York Yankees and Green Bay Packers until the player salaries started skyrocketing and he thought that money could be better spent helping the needy.  He recently started watching favorite sports teams of his grandkids, so he would have something to visit with them about.

Pete is survived by his wife of 46 years, Karen; his daughters Kim Upton (Dean Ideker) of Sturgis, SD and Keely Espinoza of Hartford, SD; Grandchildren Xander Espinoza of Humboldt, SD, Zachary Espinoza of Harrisburg, SD and Sedona Espinoza of Hartford, SD; his Irish twin sister Eleanore Hanneman of Mankato, MN, sister-in-law Cecilia Determan of Emery, SD as well as many nephews and nieces. He will also be missed by his faithful, furry buddy, Andy. He was preceded in death by his parents Edward and Genevieve (Schneider) Schulte, brother-in-laws Robert Determan and Jim Hanneman.

The family would like to thank the staff at Ava's House Hospice for taking such personal care of both Pete and the entire family.