Burton R. Kurkela, age 91, of Watertown, formerly of Hayti and Estelline, died Friday, July 20, 2012, at the Estelline Nursing and Care Center. His funeral service will be 11:00 AM, Tuesday, July 24, 2012 at Hayti Lutheran Church with Rev. William Hamill officiating. Burial will be in the Apostolic Lutheran Cemetery at Lake Norden. Visitation will be from 5PM to 8PM Monday at Geise Funeral Home in Estelline. He was born June 15, 1921 in Laketon Township, Brookings County, Estelline, South Dakota to Otto and Anna (Koistinen) Kurkela. He was baptized and confirmed in the Lutheran faith and attended school at Laketon District #35 (Moen School). He was a farmer and later assisted a friend in the plumbing business. After his marriage to Doris Kienast on October 20, 1946 they lived on his grandparents' (Jacob and Anna Kurkela) homestead on the southeast corner of Lake Poinsett for 10 years, being the last residents to live there. They farmed in Hamlin County for 24 years, retiring in the fall of 1981 when they moved to Hayti. In June of 1999 they moved to Watertown and Doris died in 2004. Burton moved to Stoneybrook Suites in the winter of 2005 and entered the Estelline Nursing and Care Center on July 10, 2012. Burton had "a place for everything and everything in its place". He was a dedicated farmer and enjoyed fishing and visiting with family and friends. Grateful for having shared his life are his two sisters, Darlene Boom and her husband Edwin of Murrieta, CA, Jean Gudehus of Whittier, CA; a sister-in-law Lillian Kurkela of Estelline; a brother-in-law Herbert Keinast of Toronto; a special friend Chuck Linneman of Watertown; six nieces and nephews; 12 great nieces and nephews; 13 great great nieces and nephews; and a host of other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife Doris; his parents Otto and Anna Kurkela; three brothers, LaVerne, Verner and Glendon; one nephew Craig; and one niece Bonnie.