RAPID CITY- Donald E. Leck was born in Orangeville, IL on September 15, 1920 to Oscar and Barbara (Davidson) Leck. He was the third of four sons. He went to Elementary school in a country school near Orangeville. He attended and graduated from Orangeville High School in 1938. He worked in farming and then at Micro Switch Factory. He married Doris Durfey on November 17, 1941. In 1944, he enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He was in flight training at the end of the war and was not able to fulfill his dream of flying in the Air Corps. After his discharge, he took private lessons and became a pilot. He enjoyed flying as a hobby. He was employed at Furst McNess Company in Freeport, IL. In 1950, the family moved to Menno, SD where he and Doris operated a Mobil gas station & café. After a vacation to the Black Hills in 1955, they sold their business and moved west. Don worked a year on Pactola Dam tying steel for the spillway. At the completion of Pactola, the family moved into Rapid City and he was a salesman for Sears in the furniture and carpeting department. He & Doris also owned the "Leck's Cluster Corner" in Rapid City for five years. After retiring, they bought a house in Silver City and lived there for 18 years. They later moved into an apartment in Rapid City. In 2006, after Alzheimer's Disease required his move to Golden Living Center, Bella Vista, which became his home. He fought a valiant fight and never lost his sense of humor. He loved his wonderful Black Hills and took every opportunity to be outside. He was always happiest when he was working on a project. He is survived by his devoted and loving wife, Doris; daughter, Barbara (Stan) Peden, Rapid City; son, Allen (Linda) Leck, Danville, CA; six grandchildren: Tamara Larson, Todd Peden, Troy Peden, Thomas Peden, Erin Leck, and Ashlee DuPont, and 18 great grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his brothers: Clifford Leck, Leo Leck, and Paul Leck. His family would like to thank everyone at Golden Living Center- Bella Vista from the beginning and present for all of their love, kindness, and care. You were his family, also. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, March 21, at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, March 22, at South Canyon Baptist Church with the Rev. Paul Lloyd officiating. Interment will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis. A memorial has been established to benefit the Alzheimer's Association of South Dakota., 1000 N West Ave # 250 Sioux Falls, SD 57104.