Robert Joseph Lacher

Robert "Bob" Lacher, 84, died at Brookings Health System on September 22. A teacher, preacher, and gardener, Bob's life was characterized by his devotion to cultivating relationships with his family, his students, and his community. Born July 5, 1939, to Marian (Gray) Lacher and Joseph Lacher in St. Cloud, Minnesota, Bob served in the U.S. Army Reserves after high school and then attended St. Cloud State University where he majored in mathematics and earned his teaching certificate. His first teaching job was in Litchfield, Minnesota, where he also coached debate and track and refereed football, and then he went to Rutgers University to pursue a master's degree in mathematics. Here he met Jean Stahlin and they were married in 1966. He returned to teach at St. Cloud State University and then went to the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley and earned a PhD in mathematics. In 1970, he accepted a position in the math department at South Dakota State University in Brookings, where he taught for 35 years, until his retirement.
He advised countless graduate students and came to specialize in quality control, building partnerships with many manufacturing companies in the area, including 3M, Daktronics, and Larson. Bob was also a very active member of St. Paul's Episcopal Church, serving as a lay minister, vestry member, and warden. For decades, he led a monthly prayer service at St. Stephen's Episcopal Church in DeSmet and was known for his thoughtful sermons. For 45 years, Bob operated Lacher's Vegetable Farm & Market from his acreage just west of Brookings. Despite a constant battle with the deer and raccoons, he grew the tastiest sweet corn, knowing instinctively when to pick it at the peak of ripeness. Ultimately, though, Bob was a consummate teacher. He held all of his students to high standards, guided them in their studies with patience and persistence, and took great delight in their academic and vocational success. A founding member of the Council on Higher Education, he was committed to advocating for teaching as a profession at the post-secondary level.
Upon his retirement from SDSU in 2005, he donated his time and talent to Habitat for Humanity and met weekly with his former colleagues for coffee, a group that lovingly refers to themselves as the ORFs (Old Retired Farts). Beginning in the spring of 2010, he made 8 overseas trips, visiting northern Africa, southeast Asia, and Europe to spend time with his younger daughter Stephanie who teaches internationally. Beginning in the summer of 2010, he was able to spend his time in Brookings with his elder daughter Jennifer's family, who moved back to Brookings from Maine. Bob enjoyed attending his two grandchildren's music and sporting events while keeping up with his church activities and gardening.
Bob is predeceased by his parents and his wife.
He is survived by his two daughters, Jennifer (Mike) Lacher-Starace of Brookings and Stephanie Lacher of Brussels, Belgium; his two grandchildren, Olivia and Jonathan Lacher-Starace; his brother Richard "Dick" Lacher and sister Mary Munson; two brothers-in-law, Jeremy (Judy) Stahlin and John (Melissa) Stahlin; one niece, Sarah (Matt) Maiocco; two nephews, Chris (Morgan) Munson and David (Britton) Stahlin; four grandnieces (Jane and Lucy Maiocco and Belle and Netta Stahlin) and one grandnephew (Van Stahlin).
A Public Visitation will be held on Sunday, October 1, 2-4 PM, at Rude's Funeral Home, with a Funeral at St. Paul's Episcopal Church on Monday, October 2, at 10 AM, with a luncheon to follow.
In lieu of flowers, Bob's family asks that memorial gifts be sent to St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 726 6th Street, Brookings, SD 57006.
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