Memorial Obituary Donald E. Larson, 78, of Rapid City, died Friday, October 24, 2008, at Rapid City Regional Hospital. Donald was born January 7, 1930, at his grandparents rural Gregory County home. He was the only son of Perry and May (Jernberg) Larson. His childhood home was a Gregory County farmstead. During WW II, Donald and his parents lived at Igloo, South Dakota where his father worked for the railroad at the munitions depot. Donald attended grammar school at a rural country school in Gregory County. He attended freshman year in high school at Provo, South Dakota, and graduated from Gregory High School in 1948. On June 5, 1949, Donald married the love of his life, Lillian Joyce (Larsh). The young couple farmed with Donalds parents southwest of Gregory until moving their family to Rapid City in 1961. Don began his work as a refrigeration service technician at Greens Refrigeration in Rapid City. He continued his refrigeration service work for Black Hills Power & Light, retiring in 1992 after 30 years in their employ. Donald took great pride in caring for his family. He was a loving and devoted husband and father. He and Joyce celebrated 57 years of marriage and raised four children. Donald enjoyed visiting with relatives and friends; and he loved to tell stories about his life experiences. In his later years, the servers at the local restaurants became important to both Don and Joyce as they enjoyed their visits when out for lunch. Donald was a history buff, particularly interested in the history of the American West and the Native American tribes of the Great Plains. Grateful to have shared his life are three daughters, Carol (Keith) Umenthum, Deadwood, Sandy (Roger) Jensen, Lexington, NE, and Pam (Dave) Kunzweiler, Rapid City; eight grandchildren, Neile (Kelly) Hoops, Sturgis, Laura (Reese) Clarkson, Buffalo, Amy (Corey) Anderson, Omaha, NE, Ryan Jensen, Omaha, NE, Eric Larson, Spearfish, Greg (Tarra and her son, Tyler) Larson, Rapid City, and Hannah and Rachel Kunzweiler, Rapid City; four great-grandchildren, Shelby and Odessa Clarkson, Buffalo, and Gwendolyn and Owen Hoops, Sturgis; three sisters-in-law, Hazel Peterson, Pierre, Marvel Pugh, Rapid City, and Barb(Meade) Himrich, Rapid City; one brother-in-law, John Casey Larsh Jr., Rapid City; and numerous nieces and nephews. Donald was preceded in death by his parents, a son, Bradley J. Brad Larson in 1993, and his wife, Joyce in 2006. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. until 7 p.m. on Wednesday, October 29, 2008, at the Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home. Services will be held at 1:30 p.m. on Thursday, October 30, 2008, at the First United Methodist Church with the Rev. Douglas E. Diehl officiating. Interment will be at the Mountain View Cemetery. A memorial has been established.