RAPID CITY- Harry W. Putnam, 91, died Monday, September 15, 2014 at the Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center at Ft. Meade, SD. Harry was born to Fannie (Livermore) and Kimball Putnam October 27, 1922, forty miles west of Pierre near the Bad River. He graduated from Pierre High School in 1940. He lived at home until November 1942 when he joined the United States Navy. He was stationed at Pensacola, Florida, from the spring of 1943 until November 1944, when he was assigned to the U.S.S. Suwannee, a small aircraft carrier. He saw action in the Battle of Okinawa. After discharge in January 1946, he moved to Rapid City and married Margaret Daughenbaugh June 28, 1947. He worked as a carpenter and fireman, which was his favorite job. Then, through the efforts of Margaret, he attended Black Hill State College, and eventually attained a Master's degree in education. He taught English in Rapid City for twenty-one years until he retired at age 62. He was a life time member of VFW Post 1273 and the South Dakota Educational Association. Margaret and Harry loved to travel, saw most of the United States and made several trips to England and Scotland where Margaret had relatives. He was a student of history and enjoyed faraway places, especially places of historical interest. He was a longtime diarist, keeping a daily diary for seventy-three years. During his retirement from teaching, he worked as a carpenter and handyman, building or repairing things for many people, and he loved to meet with and hear from former students. Harry felt life was good to him. He suffered few ailments and enjoyed many years of marriage with Margaret. He enjoyed his children and grandkids and his many friendships. He leaves his wife, Margaret, of 67 years; daughter, Susan (Dean) Hade; a son, Kenneth (Linnea) Putnam, all of Rapid City; a sister, Hazel Madaris of Cambridge, MN; and grandchildren; Randall and Daniel Hade, and Lee and Layne Putnam. Visitation will be from 5:00-7:00 p.m. on Friday, September 19 at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home. Services will be at 11:00 am on Saturday, September 20, at First Congregational Church UCC with Rev. Kathleen Batchelder officiating. Interment will be at Black Hills National Cemetery with full military honors provided by the Rushmore VFW Post 1273 and U.S. Navy Honor Guard. In lieu of flowers, memorials have been established for the Rapid City Fire Department, the Rapid City Library, and the First Congregational Church.