Walter Lewis Slipke, 91, died peacefully in the presence of his children Sept. 17, 2023, at Lakes Regional Healthcare in Spirit Lake. Walt was born on Aug. 11, 1932, in Norton, Kansas, and grew up in the small town of New Almelo, Kansas, where he was known as Wally. After high school, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served honorably from 1951-54, including a deployment to the Korean War.