Elmer Iversen, 87, of Rapid City passed away Feb. 12, 2012, at Rapid City Regional Hospital. Elmer, the youngest child of ten born to Danish immigrants, Marinus and Helga Iversen, arrived in this world the 28th day of May 1924. The address of the farm and surrounding area where Elmer was born and grew up was Gorman SD. The community has long since become non-existent. Elmer graduated from Gettysburg High School in 1942. Soon thereafter he spent two years in the service of the US Army Signal Corps, stationed in Europe. After his discharge he returned to the family farm and pursued agriculture until purchasing and moving to a ranch in the Black Hills at Hermosa SD in 1966. He served nine years on the SD Veterans Commission having been appointed to that position by Governor Richard M Kneip. He resigned from the Commission upon his retirement in 1986 when he chose to spend the winter months in Leisure World at Mesa, AZ. and the summer months at Rapid City. He and his wife Mavis enjoyed parts of eight summers fishing and catching Sockeye Salmon on Vancouver Island, BC, Canada. In addition to fishing Elmer aggressively engaged in several sports, namely, baseball, bowling, billiards, beanbag, pool and golf in which he made an envious total of five Holes In One. He enjoyed playing card games with his friends and was an avid Cribbage player. He was a dedicated fan of the Arizona Diamondbacks and the Phoenix Suns and was a lifetime member of the American Legion, the VFW and the Elks. He leaves to mourn his passing, his wife Mavis of Rapid City, his daughter Deborah Karpen (Doyle) of Jefferson, SD, three grand-daughters, Abby Erickson (Matt) of Hanscom AFB, MA, Roxanne Karpen of New York, NY, and Whitney Karpen, Mercer, Island, WA, and three great-grandchildren, Gabrielle Erickson, Colin Erickson and Dane Erickson all of Hansom AFB, MA. He is also survived by one brother, Clarence Iversen (Avis), of Gettysburg, SD, and one sister, Agnes Hagny also of Gettysburg, SD. Also surviving him are many nieces and nephews and a host of friends and sporting acquaintances . Elmer was preceded in death by his father and mother, three sisters and four brothers. Family visitation will be held on Wednesday, Feb 15, 2012 from 4-6:00 PM at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home in Rapid City with a prayer service to begin at 6 PM. The funeral service will be held on Thursday, Feb. 16, 2012 at 10 AM at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Rapid City with Rev. Ted Huffman officiating. Lunch will follow and burial will be at the Black Hills National Cemetery with full military honors provided by the Rushmore VFW Post 1273 and the South Dakota National Guard.