Clarence 'CL' Leland Zurcher

Clarence Leland ‘CL’ Zurcher, 86, passed away Monday, January 20, 2020, at Rapid City Regional Hospital. He was born December 15, 1933, to Emil and Leona Zurcher in Tilden, NE. He became a child of God through the washing of Holy Baptism, on December 24, 1933. Later he confessed his faith, before the Lord, at the time of his confirmation on May 19, 1946, at the Immanuel Lutheran Church at Tilden, Nebraska. He graduated from Tilden High School and started farming at the age of 17. On June 15, 1952, he was united in marriage to Marlene Warneke of Tilden.
He was involved in commercial works to include custom baling, silage cutting and trucking. In 1961, CL retired from Farming and joined the Norfolk Police Department on the K-9 care. In 1963, CL joined the Nebraska State Patrol, where he served for twenty eight years. He graduated from the FBI National Academy in 1979. He also earned a degree in Criminal Justice. He retired as a Lieutenant in the Nebraska State Patrol in 1991.
He and Marlene moved to Rapid City, SD where he worked for the Pennington County Sheriff’s Department for six years. He then worked at Behrens-Wilson Funeral Home.
CL is survived by his wife of 67 years, Marlene; five sons, Galen (Connie), Torrington, WY; Billy (Sherry), Buffalo, WY; Gene, Sturgis, SD; Kim (Kimmee), North Platte, NE; Curtis (Michelle), Crofton, MD; one daughter, Sherri (Rick) Hayes, Rapid City, SD; 18 grandchildren; 23 great grandchildren and one sister, Darlene Stelling. He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother.