RAPID CITY- Donald Leroy Stensgaard, 91, died Thursday, August 18, 2016 at Belle Fourche Health Care.

He was born August 14, 1925 in Brookings County, South Dakota to Nels and Lillie (Alexander) Stensgaard. Don moved with his family to a farm near Bryant, South Dakota where he graduated from High School.

Following high school, Don moved to Buffalo, New York, where he worked in the Curtiss-Wright Aircraft defense plant until after WWII. In 1945 he returned to South Dakota where he was married to Lila Lunde on May 26, 1946 at Volga, South Dakota. Three children were born to this union. In 1953 he returned to Buffalo, and worked for a metal embossing plant until 1982 when he moved to Rapid City. He was married to Shirley Ingalls in Watertown, South Dakota in 1972. The couple lived in Rapid City where he worked for the Merillat Industries retiring in 1990. He has lived in Rapid City since.

Don was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Rapid City.

Survivors include two sons, Randi (Patricia) Stensgaard, Sun City Center, FL and Lynn Stensgaard, Port Richey, FL; one daughter, Donnelle (Tom) Lillig, Bluffton, SC; two brothers, Arden (Darla) Stensgaard, Volga, SD; Dean (Joanne) Stensgaard, Sacramento, CA; and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Preceded in death by his siblings: Milton (Phyliss) Stensgaard, Howard (Bertha) Stensgaard, Lloyd (Darlene) Stensgaard, and Silvia Stensgaard.

A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 9, 2016, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Rapid City with the Rev. Wilbur Holz officiating.