HOT SPRINGSDonald L. Clauson, 74, a former Rapid City resident, passed away at his home near Angostura Lake on Monday, June 29, 2009. Don was born on June 18, 1935, near Astoria, South Dakota, to Samuel and Nellie Mae (Rielly) Clauson. He grew up on the family farm near Astoria and attended country schools. Don moved to Rapid City in the 1960s and was employed at Nash Finch. He then began his career at the Rapid City Fire Department in 1968. On August 20, 1969, he was united in marriage to Barbara Hutchison. Don continued serving Rapid City in the Fire Department until 1993. He served in all of the stations and was a Lieutenant when he retired. Don served his last 9 years at the Rapid City Regional Airport Station. Don received the Award of Valor in 1991 for saving 4 people that were in a plane crash at Rapid City Regional Airport. He worked many catastrophic events in his career, including the 1972 Flood, the Dakota Jr. High Fire, the Furniture Factory and Westberry Trails Fire. Shortly after his retirement, Don began work at the City Landfill, where he continued to work for over 15 years. Don loved to fish and hunt and he also enjoyed and attended many activities of his grandchildren. He was also a jack of all trades, able to fix anything with anything. Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Barbara, Hot Springs; 2 sons, Shaun (Brenda) Clauson, Rapid City and Todd (and fianc Angela Staples) Clauson, Gilbert, AZ; a daughter, Michele (Curt) Gray, Glendale, AZ; 4 grandchildren, Kayla and Kelsie Gray, Kelly Clayson and Adam Staples; 2 brothers, Sam (Bernice) Clauson, Rapid City and Arnold (Patricia) Clauson, Denison, TX; and five children from a previous marriage, Duane, Bryan, Diane, Linda and Laurie, all of Massachusetts. He was preceded in death by his parents, 2 brothers, Carroll and Lloyd and 2 sisters, Marie and Marilyn. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. on Thursday, July 2, at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home. Services will follow at 2 p.m. at the funeral home with Pastor Herb Cleveland officiating. Burial will follow at Pine Lawn Memorial Park. A memorial has been established.