RAPID CITY--Ellsworth Dennis Van Houten, 92, Rapid City, died early Friday morning at the Massa Unit of Sturgis Community Health Center where he had lived for the past four years. He was born March 25, 1916, at Doland, South Dakota, to R.C. and Sena (Lindskov) Van Houten. His lifelong work was in highway construction. He was in the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression and WWII constructing roads throughout the Black Hills. He pioneered heavy equipment operation in the Bahamas in WWII. He, his father, and his brother Van established owned and operated R.C. Van Houten & Sons Construction in the 1940s which became Rapid Construction Company in the 1960s after the loss of his father and brother. He continued with his sons in the grading and construction business until he retired in 1982. He remained active in the industry and retained his passion for the construction business to his last days (especially collecting Caterpillar equipment). He was a member and past president of the Land Improvement Contractors Association and a member of the Christian Businessmens Association. He was preceded in death by his brothers Cleo B. Van Van Houten and James Waite, his sisters Joyce Covelle and Maureen Cubley, his grandnephew Matthew Van Houten and his grandson Nathan Sayre. Among those who survive him are his sons Robert and Steven Van Houten, Rapid City, William Van Houten, San Diego, CA; his daughter Debra Van Houten, Colorado Springs, CO; his grandchildren Robert Crane, Stevens Point, WI, Renee Crane, Cadott, WI, Holly Edwards, Rapid City, Nicole Drew, Rapid City, Dana Walkendorf, Rapid City, Clarity Sayre, St. Louis, MO, Jillian Sayre, Austin, TX, Alexis and Micaela Worcester, Colorado Springs, CO; his great-grandchildren Joshua Edwards, Rapid City, Dillon and Jesse Drew, Rapid City, Mandy and Katlyn Walkendorf, Rapid City, Amy, Joshua and Nick Crane, Stevens Pt., WI, Cicily Riggs-Sayre, Broxton, NJ and Kiah Sayre, St. Louis. Visitation will be from 4 until 7 p.m. today at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home. The funeral services will be at 2 p.m. on Tuesday, May 20, First Wesleyan Church, 202 E. St. Francis, Rapid City, with Pastor Mike Schultz officiating. Burial will be at Pine Lawn Memorial Park. A memorial has been established for Hospice of the Hills.