NEW: Lake Preston man dies in boating incident on Lake Whitewood

July 21, 2021
Mike Tanner

DeSMET, S.D.–A man is dead following a boating incident on Lake Whitewood, south of the town of Lake Preston.

Kingsbury County Sheriff Steven Strande tells KWAT News it happened Sunday afternoon when 68 year-old Stephen Pietsch of Lake Preston was out boating.

Strande says it appears there was engine trouble on the boat.

Pietsch may have experienced a medical problem while trying to re-start the “rope pull” type motor in hot and humid weather conditions, and fell overboard.

The sheriff says Pietsch’s body was found on the northwest corner of the lake.

The Lake Preston Fire Department, Lake Preston Ambulance, the Kingsbury County Sheriff’s Department and Game, Fish and Parks all responded to the scene.

Strande says foul play is not suspected. There will be no autopsy.