Harry Preston
Harry L. Preston, 95, of Aberdeen, SD, died Wednesday, March 27, 2024, at Bethesda Home in Aberdeen.
Harry L. Preston was born on November 6, 1928, to Harry and Doris (Lee) Preston in Gem Township, SD. He attended school in Stratford and Aberdeen and graduated from Warner High School in 1946. During his senior year in high school, he was voted biggest pest. He furthered his education by attending Northern State College and graduated from South Dakota State College for a degree in Industrial Arts in 1949. Harry entered the United States Army in 1950 and was stationed in Germany during the Korean Conflict. He was honorably discharged in 1952.
On June 30, 1954, Harry married Fern Weismantel at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Columbia, SD. They made their home in Aberdeen and raised three children: Dawn, Cindy, and Patrick. Harry was a contractor and had a special talent for plumbing, heating, and electrical work. He owned Preston’s Inc. and later the Handyman Store until he retired. After retirement Harry and Fern traveled all over the United States building schools and Churches with Laborers for Christ.
Harry loved traveling and camping. He especially enjoyed time at Pickeral Lake with family. Later in life he started carving wood. He was a Member of Good Sam’s Camping Club, Aberdeen Downtown Association, Cosmopolitan Club, and South Dakota Electrical Contractors.
Grateful for having shared Harry’s life are his wife of 69 years, Fern Preston; children: Dawn Neussendorfer, Cindy Stern, and Patrick (Heidi) Preston; grandchildren: Philip Neussendorfer, Kristin (Jim) Schauer, Richard (Theresa) Neussendorfer, Pamela (Tom) Crowther, Kimberlee (Justin) Werk, Amanda (Ryan) Perrion, Connor (Tessa) Preston, Taylor (Ashlyn) Mehlhaff; great-grandchildren: Gabriel Neussendorfer, Elaina Neussendorfer, Lia (Kyler) Dinger, Ahna (Luke) Jorgenson, Karina (Logan) Manhart, Rebekah Schauer, Joshua Schauer, Caleb Neussendorfer, Jonah Neussendorfer, Hannah Crowther, Emilie Crowther, Thomas Crowther, Jet Werk, Anna Perrion, Emery Perrion, Cadence Perrion, Gideon Perrion, Bennett Mehlhaff, Hollyn Mehlhaff, Teaghan Mehlhaff; great-great-grandchildren: Marissa, Michael, Addison, Jaron, and Josie; and sister Barbara (Harold) Nelson
Preceding Harry in death are his parents, Harry and Doris Preston; daughter, Diane Preston; sons-in-law, Paul Neussendorfer and Randy Stern; sister, Betty Fuhrman; and brother-in-law, Lyle Fuhrman.