Edward J. "Ed" Schlachter

Edward J. Schlachter died on November 30, 2023, in Hastings at age 89 and in the company of his loving family. 

With his beloved spouse Margaret, Ed lived, worked, and prospered in Hastings for nearly 60 years.  For much of that period, Ed served Hastings as a pharmacist and was the longtime business owner of Ed’s Pharmacy and Village Pharmacy. His commitment to the Hastings community was untiring, with civic service including the Hastings School Board and the Hastings Utility Advisory Board.  

Born and raised in Gettysburg, South Dakota, Ed attended the University of Minnesota, Creighton University, and South Dakota State University.  Ed and Margaret met at Creighton and were married in 1958.  They celebrated 65 years of that marriage the day before Ed died.  

Ed was enormously proud of his six children: Stephen (Fiona), Anne (Leanne Ziettlow), John (Jody), Mark (Beth), Paul (Kathleen Myers), Matthew (Jennifer), and his seven grandchildren.  He was preceded in death by his parents, one infant son, and his brother. 

Ed taught his kids how to talk smack at the card table, but also to respect their elders. He never had a hole-in-one in golf but celebrated with his friends and his wife when they did. 

He always had a bottle of champagne in the refrigerator, because he knew that occasions to celebrate often happen unexpectedly. And he was right when he predicted that his kids would grow to be each other’s best friends.

Mass of Christian Burial will be at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, December 5, at St. Cecilia Catholic Church in Hastings with Father Steve Major, Father Thomas Brouillette, and Father Craig Clinch officiating, followed by a reception at Lochland Country Club beginning at 3:00 p.m. Private family burial will be at Parkview Cemetery in Hastings. In lieu of flowers, the family asks that admirers of Ed and his longtime service consider making a contribution to either the Hastings Public Schools Foundation (HastingsPublicSchools.org) or the Hastings Catholic Schools Foundation (HastingsCatholicSchools.org). The service will be live-streamed on Livingston Butler Volland Funeral Home’s website. To view the service, go to Ed’s obituary and click the play button shown towards the bottom of the page.