Buffalo, South Dakota - Donald H. Bryan, 83, Buffalo, died Friday, July 30, 2010, at the Ft. Meade Veterans Affairs Medical Center following a brief illness. Donald was born Dec. 11, 1926, to Donald Cramer and Wilhamina, Christina (Brunson) Bryan in Murdo. He was the oldest son in a family of eleven children. The Bryan family lived near White River where the children attended school with Don driving the family school car to take his brothers and sisters to school. Don was proud to own an American made Indian motorcycle in his youth. He worked for Boeing in Seattle while staying with his aunt Bernice Hendrickson in his teens. Don Joined the U.S. Navy on Feb. 5, 1946, at the Great Lakes. He served as a fireman 2nd class aboard the U.S.S. Antietam. He was in the Philippines on July 4, 1946, and July 4, 1947, and received a medal for the Liberation of the Philippines for his service. He was honorably discharged on his 21st birthday, Dec. 11, 1947, at Las Alameda, Calif. He returned to South Dakota to continue his life with livestock which had begun as a youth when he owned some ducks. He sold them to his mother and bought a gilt from Bill Sumners for $7, after which the family had pigs to eat and to sell. He then bought his first cow of many. Cattle were his life and he was well respected for his livestock husbandry. He was most interested in raising Hereford Angus cross cattle to get the black baldies. He married Charleen King November 1948 in Rapid City. Five children were born to this union. Don leased land in central SD for his livestock and for his family to live. Following a house fire on a winter morning in the late 60's the family then moved back to Pierre for schooling. Don worked at the Murdo sale barn as well as the Ft. Pierre sale barn and later worked on the Roseth ranch. In the early 80's he moved to Pringle to assist and care for his parents. Don moved to Harding County in 1993 where he continued to ranch until a few days before his death. He enjoyed a good home grown beef steak along with fresh corn on the cob and tomatoes from the gardens. He was a life member of the V.F.W. He is survived by his sons, Donald Curtis Bryant (Sylvia), Lemoore, Calif., Lee Mark Bryan, Cheyenne, Wyo., and Michael John Bryan, Murdo; his daughters, Melanye Sue Bryan and Cindy Lou Bryan, both of Rapid City,; and a special friend, Alice Holcomb, Buffalo. He is also survived by five brothers, Charles E. (Joann) Bryan and Willard M (Cleota) Bryan, both of Avon, Tony M. (Barbara) Bryan, Edgemont, Larry J, (Diane) Bryan, Tyndall, and Wayne D. Bryan and his friend, Millie, Bakersfield, Calif.; four sisters Madelon White, Herrick, Carolyn C. (Richard) McKee, White River, Patty A. Harris, Belle Fourche, and Sharon L. Letellier, Millers Creek, N.C.; three granddaughters, Jillian, Michaela and Alyssa Bryan; a grandson, Clayton Bryan; and a great grandson, Jackson Bryant, and numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Don was preceded in death by his parents and a sister, Lola Herman. Memorial services with military honors by the Sturgis VFW Honor Guard will be Friday, August 20, 2010 at 10:30 A.M. at Black Hills National Cemetery with Chaplain (Ret.) Herb H. Cleveland officaiting. Inurnment will follow at the cemetery.