Albert Park Rickel (Al)

Farmer, SD

1937, 793, Tigerville, F-15,

Albert Park Rickel, age 88, of Mitchell, died April 4, 2007, at the Avera Queen of Peace Hospital. Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, April 10, at 2:00 PM at Zion Lutheran Church in Mitchell. Visitation will be from 6-8 PM Monday at the Will Funeral Chapel with a prayer service at 7 PM. Burial will be in Servicemens Memorial Cemetery with military rites.

Al was born on October 2, 1918 in Millboro, South Dakota to Joseph and Lillian (Todhunter) Rickel. He attended schools in the Farmer and Plano areas. He joined the Civilian Conservation Corps in 1936, serving in the Hill City area of the Black Hills. He served with the 793rd Company and built the Mitchell Dam and Heliport in Hill City which still stand today. After completing duty with the CCCs, he returned to the Mitchell area. Unable to find work, he went to the Ethan area and worked for three different farmers. Then Al returned to the Farmer area working a few odd jobs. He worked as a farmhand around Willmar, Minnesota until the war broke out.

Al joined the Navy on December 7, 1941. He was a gunners mate in the 10th Division aboard the U.S.S. South Dakota (BB57) for most of the war. He fought in many of the major battles of the Pacific campaign. Petty Officer Albert Rickel was officially credited with shooting down seven Japanese aircraft. He also served aboard the light cruiser U.S.S. Dayton (CL-105).

Al was married on September 17, 1949 to Elaine Jochims. He was employed by Mitchell Motor Company for 35 years as the service manager until 1984 when he retired. He was a member of Zion Lutheran Church and the Lake Mitchell Sportsman Club. He was an active member of the U.S. S. South Dakota Crewmembers Association. Al enjoyed fishing, hunting, camping and playing cards with family and friends.

Grateful for sharing his life are his wife, Elaine; his three sons, Alan Rickel of Rapid City, Dana (Jody) Rickel of Sioux Falls, and Bryan (Kari) Rickel of Mitchell; four grandchildren, Amy Kayser, Kirby Rickel, Alex Rickel, and Jake Rickel. He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and a sister.

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