Butch Bienkowski

Hastings resident Walter “Butch” C. Bienkowski III, 77, passed away Wednesday, February 25, 2026, at Nebraska Methodist Hospital in Omaha, Nebraska.
Services will be held at a later date. Honoring his wish to be cremated there will be no viewing or visitation. DeWitt Funeral Home and Cremation Services is assisting his family with arrangements.
Memorials may be directed to his family for a later designation.
Butch was born on November 28, 1948, in Hastings, to Benny and Billie Bienkowski. He graduated with the Class of 1967 from Hastings High School and went on to attend University of Nebraska at Kearney.
Butch co-founded The Garden in 1973, and later the 2nd Street Slammer in 1977, where he served Hastings residents and customers from across the country for over 48 years. Deeply invested in his community, he managed a competitive Women's fastpitch softball team for nearly a decade, then founded the Athletics Baseball program in 1990, Hastings' first youth travel baseball league.
Growing up, Butch cherished time spent with family at their cabin at Johnson Lake, and in recent years he enjoyed wintering in Scottsdale. His greatest gift and his greatest joy was bringing people together. Butch had a remarkable talent for planning events and took genuine pleasure in seeing others laugh, connect, and create lasting memories.
Butch is survived by his wife, Diana Bienkowski; son, Bo Bienkowski and his significant other, Amanda Cargile; granddaughter, Diantha Bienkowski; brother Bob (Teresa) Bienkowski; sisters, Pat Kurkowski, Jean Weber, and JoAnn (Dave) Erickson; along with numerous nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents and sister, Sue Hanson.