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Maynard L “Buster” Hemp

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Birth	:	24 Oct 1930 Castlewood, Hamlin County, South Dakota, USA
Death	:	27 Mar 2012 Watertown, Codington County, South Dakota, USA
Burial	:	Castlewood Cemetery, Castlewood, Hamlin County, USA
Coordinate	:	44.7183200, -97.0264800
Description	:	Maynard L. "Buster" Hemp, age 81, of Watertown, SD passed away on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at a local care center. Funeral services will be at 10:30 on Saturday, March 31, 2012 at the First United Methodist Church in Watertown with Reverend Joel Higgins officiating and Karen Mee as organist. Interment will be in the Castlewood Cemetery, Castlewood, SD, with the American Legion Riders leading the procession. Military Honors will be conducted by the Frank H. Adams Post 750 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Codington County Post 17 of the American Legion of Watertown, Olson-Reid Post 250 of... Read More	Maynard L. "Buster" Hemp, age 81, of Watertown, SD passed away on Tuesday, March 27, 2012 at a local care center. Funeral services will be at 10:30 on Saturday, March 31, 2012 at the First United Methodist Church in Watertown with Reverend Joel Higgins officiating and Karen Mee as organist. Interment will be in the Castlewood Cemetery, Castlewood, SD, with the American Legion Riders leading the procession. Military Honors will be conducted by the Frank H. Adams Post 750 of the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Codington County Post 17 of the American Legion of Watertown, Olson-Reid Post 250 of the American Legion of Castlewood. Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Friday at the Wight, Comes & Sogn Funeral Chapel in Watertown and will continue on Saturday prior to the services at the church. Honorary Pallbearers will be all South Dakota Veterans. Active Pallbearers will be Joseph Sande, Gerald Cudmore, Bill Russell, Tom Bludorn, Dave Converse, and Buster's grandson, Nathan Stockfleth. Buster was born on October 24, 1930, at Castlewood, SD to Edison and Bertha (Koenders) Hemp. He was raised in Castlewood where he attended elementary and high school, graduating as class salutatorian in 1948 at the age of 17. He played and excelled in high school sports of baseball, basketball and track. Buster was an avid baseball fan playing Teener, Legion and Amateur ball in his youth and professionally two years in the Dodger organization attaining "AA" status for the Ft. Worth Cats of the old Texas League prior to his Air Force duty. During that time, he attended S.D.S.U. in the fall and winter and played baseball in the spring and summer. Buster enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in August of 1951 and trained as an expert in airborne radar, guidance systems and electronic instruments being assigned to Clovis, NM, AFB (now Cannon AFB) where an Air Wing of F-86 "Sabre Jets", America's newest supersonic, swept-wing, fighter planes of the time, was being assembled with the ultimate destination of Korea to combat the Russian-built MIG 15's. Buster served with the 81st Fighter Squadron, based at Suwon, Korea from August of 1952 until July of 1953 when the truce was declared. The Air Wing returned to Clovis, NM, AFB only to depart in September of 1953 to Hahn AFB, by Russian pilots along the Austrian boarder. Strategic missions took him all over Europe, Africa and Asia the next two years covering 87 countries and every continent except Australia before being separated from the service in late August of 1955. Buster cherished the Air Force friendships made in his F-86 "Sabre Jet" fighter squadron, specifically the "MIG Alley" pilots he rubbed elbows with everyday in Korea: Robinson Rismer, James Jabara, Ralph Paar, Joe McConnell, George Rudell all bonafide Air Aces with 10, or more confirmed enemy aircraft destroyed. He married Beverly Strait on June 29, 1957 at Watertown in the First United Methodist Church. The couple have made their home in Watertown and have been members of the First United Methodist Church ever since. To this union, two daughters were born. Buster was employed by the Field Engineers, SD Department of Highways from 1955-1958; a was sketch artist, layout designer and sign painter for Hiway Sign Co. of Watertown from 1958-1966. He was appointed Assistant State Adjutant for the SD American Legion and editor of the SD Legion News on November 1, 1966, and was State Adjutant of the SD American Legion in July of 1976 until retiring August 1, 1993. He was a Life Member of the Castlewood American Legion Post 250 serving as Post Commander, Post Adjutant, Hamlin County Commander and District 3 Vice Commander. A Life Member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 750, Watertown, Buster was All-State Post Commander in 1966, All-American District 4 Commander in 1997 and again in 1998, Elected District 4 VFW Commander again in 2005-2006 and 2006-2007, and he earned All-State District Commander status both years. Buster was also named VFW Post 750 Adjutant in 1997 and Post Quartermaster in 2008-2009 serving to date in both capacities. He was All-State Quartermaster in 2008-2009 and won the William Radigan Award, emblematic of being the top Quartermaster in the state, attaining All-American Quartermaster status the same year. Buster was a Life Member of Voiture 773, Forty et Eight, Watertown, serving as Correspondent, (Adjutant) and Commissaire Intendant (Finance) Officer) since the Voiture's reactivation in 1987. He was a Life Member of ANAVICUS (Army, Navy, Air Force Veterans in Canada U.S. Chapter), last living honorary member of the National Champion Sioux Falls American Legion Chorus, member of YE STEIVOS (National organization of past and present State Legion Adjutants) since 1966 serving as Ye King in 1990. He was also a 30 year member of the Fraternal Order of Eagles and a former member of the Elks. He served on the SD American Legion Boys State Corporation as a counselor for 27 years while being on the Board of Directors for 17 years. Buster served the City of Watertown as a volunteer on the Board of Adjustment for 20 years. He was an honorary lifetime member of the South Dakota Umpires Association and was listed in the SD Amateur Baseball Hall of Fame at Lake Norden . Buster was the first secretary-treasurer of the South Dakota Veterans Council when it was organized in 1977 and served in that capacity until 1987. During that time, the present South Dakota Veterans Building on the State Fairgrounds in Huron was conceived and constructed. Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Beverly; two daughters, Beth (Neil) Stockfleth of Sergeant Bluff, IA, and Heather (Troy) Lindberg of Port Orange, FL; and five grandchildren, Nathan, Kristen and Allison Stockfleth and Tyler and Tegan Hanson. He was preceded in death by his parents and one grandson, Brent Stockfleth. Buster devoted his entire lifetime to the welfare and aid of veterans of the United States Armed Forces and participated in the graveside military honors (many as bugler) at the funerals of over 400 fellow veterans.

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is Maynard L “Buster” Hemp's memorial?
Maynard L “Buster” Hemp's memorial is located at: Castlewood Cemetery, Castlewood, Hamlin County, USA.
When did Maynard L “Buster” Hemp death?
Maynard L “Buster” Hemp death on 27 Mar 2012 in Watertown, Codington County, South Dakota, USA
Where are the coordinates of the Maynard L “Buster” Hemp's memorial?
Latitude: 44.7183200
Longitude: -97.0264800

Family Members:

Parent

Edison Leo Hemp

(1899 - 1977)

Bertha Koenders Hemp

(1899 - 1968)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Saint Johns Catholic Cemetery
Castlewood, Hamlin County, USA
Coordinate: 44.7176575, -97.0239113

2. Hamlin Reformed Cemetery
Castlewood, Hamlin County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6895200, -96.9262200

3. Dempster Cemetery
Dempster, Hamlin County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6303800, -96.9417400

4. Christian Reformed Cemetery
Bemis, Deuel County, USA
Coordinate: 44.7757000, -96.8751000

5. Evergreen Presbyterian Cemetery
Deuel County, USA
Coordinate: 44.7747002, -96.8657990

6. Pleasant View Cemetery
Hayti, Hamlin County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6560040, -97.1883680

7. East Norden Cemetery
Lake Norden, Hamlin County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6074110, -97.1284100

8. Bakke Cemetery
Estelline, Hamlin County, USA
Coordinate: 44.5804400, -97.0446900

9. Oxford Cemetery
Thomas, Hamlin County, USA
Coordinate: 44.7607900, -97.2134400

10. Havana Lutheran Cemetery
Deuel County, USA
Coordinate: 44.7771590, -96.8423800

11. Tabor Cemetery
Deuel County, USA
Coordinate: 44.7468987, -96.8230972

12. West Norden Cemetery
Hayti, Hamlin County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6296997, -97.2093964

13. Hillcrest Cemetery
Estelline, Hamlin County, USA
Coordinate: 44.5810860, -96.9035940

14. Saint Francis de Sales Catholic Cemetery
Estelline, Hamlin County, USA
Coordinate: 44.5810860, -96.9035940

15. Mother of God Monastery Cemetery
Watertown, Codington County, USA
Coordinate: 44.8678000, -97.1181000

16. Trinity Lutheran Cemetery
Lake Norden, Hamlin County, USA
Coordinate: 44.5863300, -97.1661200

17. Hidewood Zion Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery
Deuel County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6597610, -96.8049050

18. Lake Norden Baptist Cemetery
Lake Norden, Hamlin County, USA
Coordinate: 44.5883500, -97.1801400

19. Schneiders Grove Cemetery
Kranzburg Township, Codington County, USA
Coordinate: 44.8786968, -96.9435766

20. Spooner Children Graves
Kranzburg Township, Codington County, USA
Coordinate: 44.8786968, -96.9435766

21. Saint Marys Cemetery
Watertown, Codington County, USA
Coordinate: 44.8908005, -97.0836029

22. Bemis Cemetery
Deuel County, USA
Coordinate: 44.8333015, -96.8343964

23. New Hope Cemetery
Hayti, Hamlin County, USA
Coordinate: 44.6951800, -97.2888100

24. Poinsett Cemetery
Kingsbury County, USA
Coordinate: 44.5428009, -97.1286011