RAPID CITY John Eugene Langenfeld, 85, Rapid City, died Saturday, December 20, 2008, in Rapid City while walking to church. John was born in Watertown, SD, on October 30, 1923, the youngest of 11 children born in the marriage of Matt Langenfeld Sr. and Helena (Neisen) Langenfeld. He graduated from Watertown High School in 1941. John attended Regis University in Denver, Colorado prior to joining the family ice cream business (Langenfelds Ice Cream Company), which was begun by his father as a dairy in Watertown. John met his wife Margaret Mary Peggy (Neville) Langenfeld of Fairbury, Nebraska in 1953 in Mitchell, SD where four of their eight children were born, Theresa, Catherine, Mary and John Jr. John expanded the Ice Cream Company and moved to Rapid City in 1959. It was in Rapid City that John and Peggy added four more children to their family, Gretchen, Frances, Ann and Jennifer. In 1967 John started his second career, working in sales in various investment and service industries. He retired from Black Hills Chemical in 1991. John was a devoted Catholic, husband and father, in that order. John is a man of great integrity who stood strong for his beliefs in his faith. He and Peggy raised their children to be strong and independent contributors to the belief that through education and religion they could make the world a better place. He was a simple man who did not believe in the extravagances of life, and was an early advocate of recycling in Rapid City. To form a lasting tribute to the Langenfelds Ice Cream era, John contributed memorabilia to the Redlin Art Center in Watertown, SD. This contribution was facilitated by Johns niece, Helene Redlin (Langenfeld), and because of Johns vision the history associated with the Langenfeld Ice Cream Company will be forever remembered. John left this world an active participant. He lived alone for many years after his children left home and his wife died in 1986. He initially spent many years traveling the world. He was never a burden to his children, and continued his independence to the very end. He golfed daily, when weather permitted, and just the day before he died John could be found hunting geese and enjoying the camaraderie of his many, many close friends. John Langenfeld has spent the past 22 years supporting his wifes memorial fund to the Dahl Fine Arts scholarship program. John is preceded in death by his parents, brothers and sisters, Norbert Neisen and also by his wife Margaret Mary Peggy (Neville) Langenfeld. John is survived by his children and grandchildren, Theresa (Dominic) Ruscio and their children, Andrea, Dominic and Steven of Westminster, CO; Catherine Perry, of Huron, SD, and her children, Annette Perry, Rebekah (Philip) Storm, Natalie Perry, and Nicholas Perry; Mary (Brett) Weller and their daughter, Maggie, of Hudson, WI; Dr. John (Elaine) Langenfeld and their daughter, Claudia, of Flemington, NJ; Gretchen (Andre) Clayborne and their children, Elizabeth (Nick) Moeller, Sarah, Jonathan and Samatha, of Sioux Falls, SD; Frances (David) Henderson, of Rapid City, SD, and their children, Eric (Alece), Ryan, Jeremy, Jacob and Evan; Ann (Jon) Kellar and their children, Grace, Catherine, Emma and Patrick, of Rapid City, SD; Jennifer (Michael) Lande and their children, Matthew and William of Skokie, IL., and five great grandchildren. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Friday, December 26, 2008 at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home in Rapid City, with a wake service at 7 p.m. Mass of Christian Burial will be offered at 10 a.m. Saturday, December 27, at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, with the Father Michel Mulloy presiding. Burial will follow at Mount Calvary Cemetery in Rapid City. A memorial has been established.