Jan Milan Laitos, 92, of Rapid City, died Thursday May 1, 2008, at Rapid City Regional Hospital. Jan was born on May 12, 1915 in New Kensington, Penn., to Jan and Julia Laitos, both first generation Americans from Czechoslovakia. He was the youngest of three and is survived by his two older sisters, Pauline, 98, and Jule, 96. Jan graduated from Capital University in Columbus, Ohio in 1937 with a Bachelors degree in Business Administration and Economics. He enlisted in the Army Air Corps in 1941 and was stationed at Lowry Field at Denver, Colo., where he met his future wife, Marjorie Bell Goudie. He proposed to Marge on the morning of December 7, 1941, hours before the bombing of Pearl Harbor. They were married at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Denver on April 7, 1942. After the war, Jan and Marge started a family with three sons: Jan, a Professor of Law at the University of Denver in Denver, Colo., Robby, an International Developer in Fort Collins, Colo., and Mark, a Family Physician in Longmont, Colo. Jan has four grandchildren: Penny, Meredith, Erik and Alex, and one daughter-in-law, Julie of Longmont. His family meant everything to Jan. Jans military career stretched across World War II, the Berlin Crisis, the Korean War, the Cuban Missile Crisis, and the Vietnam War. His assignments included the War Departments Air Force Division of National Guard at the Pentagon, the Director of the Armament Training School at Lowry AFB in Denver, Colo., the Deputy Chief of the Armament and Electronics Division at Offutt AFB in Omaha, Neb., the Executive Officer and Director of Munitions Development Laboratory at Air Proving Ground Center at Eglin AFB in Pensacola, Fla., and the missile man of the Strategic Air Command during much of the Cold War. He was stationed at Headquarters, Strategic Air Command during the Cuban Missile Crisis, where he advised the General staff regarding status of the U.S. missile force. A highlight of Jans illustrious military career was flying through the mushroom cloud of an atomic bomb test above Nevada. He used to joke that perhaps this was the secret to living a long and healthy life. Jans last military assignment was the Director of Material for the 821st Strategic Aerospace Division at Ellsworth AFB. He retired in 1968 with the rank of colonel, a title that his family and friends lovingly used for the rest of his life. He later became a Director of the Air Force Association. Jan was never comfortable without lots of things to keep him busy, so he began a second career as a lobbyist at Control Data in Rapid City. He continued to go to the office almost every morning until he was 91. Jan was a devoted participant of the Rapid City community. He was a member of Rapid City Chamber of Commerce and in its Military Affairs Committee. He was a member of Rotary Club, Shriners, Black Hills Workshop, and a 40-year member of the Rapid City Gourmet Club #1. Jan was very active at St. Andrews Episcopal Church as part of the church family and served in the vestry. He also cherished his weekly mens Bible study, which he attended for his last 12 years. The Colonel, as he will always be remembered, lived a full and fascinating life. His family, friends, and church community loved and admired him and will remember him fondly. Jan was an unusual and colorful character. He had large reserves of energy and loved being with and serving people. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. on Sunday, May 4, at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home. Services will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday, May 5, at St. Andrews Episcopal Church, with The Rev. Kathy Monson Lutes, The Rev. Deacon Virginia Bird and The Rev. Deacon Marty Garwood officiating. Burial will follow at 1:30 p.m. at Black Hills National Cemetery, with military honors provided by Ellsworth Air Force Base Honor Guard. Memorials in Jans name can be sent to St. Andrews Episcopal Church or to Rotary International.