Orand "Big O" Liebelt passed away from complications of cancer the evening of October 18, 2023.  While his family made plans to gather for a bedside vigil, we believe he was making plans of his own.  True to his way of living his life on his own terms, he died on his own terms which was peacefully during his sleep while in the compassionate care of the VA Hospice staff at Ft. Meade in Sturgis, SD.   Orand had moved to the VA the day after his 96th birthday.  He celebrated his birthday visiting with family and friends hearing and telling new and old stories.  He loved and could tell a great story.  Orand was a genuine guy that was quick with a laugh and easy to please.  When asked what he wanted for his birthday meal he was quick to answer, "steak, fried potatoes with some lemon pie".

Orand was born at home in Lowry, SD October 1, 1927 to Walt and Magdalena Liebelt.  He used to tell his daughter Jenny he was hatched under a rock.  We aren't sure where that came from, perhaps he was trying to avoid a conversation he thought his wife Ruth was better equipped to handle.  He lived in Lowry with his parents and siblings Elsie, Viola (Bea) and Delaine until his mom passed away when he was just 5 years old.  The family moved to a farm in McLaughlin, SD and relatives helped his dad raise the 4 young children.  Orand had very fond memories of time spent with his cousins, aunts and uncles that played such a significant part in his life.  The cousins got him on roller skates after giving him his first few beers and his uncles that played in a band let him tag along.  It was at one of those dances that he tried chewing tobacco for the 1st time and once was enough.  The family later moved into town and Walt married Hannah Olson.  Three more siblings were born into the family, Jimmy, Jan and Ron.

Life in town running with his friends, many of whom were lifelong, was fun and adventurous.  So much so that Orand had to repeat a grade because he skipped out of school to go fishing too many times.

Orand's patriotism and love for his country dates far back.  He spent the summer of his sophomore year working in the shipyards at Portland, Oregon building Victory Ships during WWII.  He also spent a summer going south doing custom combining.  When he was a senior his dad bought farm land outside of McLaughlin, SD which he still owns.  He would often advise that buying land was a good investment because there won't be any more of it.  He told us recently that his only regret in life was that he didn't buy more land.

After high school Orand worked in Milwaukee and farmed with his dad until he was drafted in 1950 due to the Korean Conflict.  After being honorably discharged from the service, he went to a technical school in Omaha to learn plumbing, heating and refrigeration.  It was in Omaha that he met Ruth Paulson and soon his bachelor days were over.  They wed in Bowman, ND on November 24, 1956 and his extended family greatly expanded with inlaws, nieces and nephews.  He also was welcomed into the family by a mother-in-law whom he deeply respected.

Orand convinced Ruth to live and raise their family in McLaughlin, SD.  Karmen was born in 1958, Sue in 1960, Kathy in 1962 and Jenny in 1972.  Orand farmed and ran his business sneaking in many memory-filled weekends at the river camping, fishing and hauling any kid wanting to water ski.

Orand took great pride and was active in McLaughlin.  He served on the Redeemer Lutheran Church Council, taught renegades in Sunday School, was on the City Council and was very instrumental in getting municipal power, underground electrical lines, one of the only indoor/outdoor swimming pools in the country and getting the streets paved (probably didn't hurt that he told his girls to drive by and make dust on the blocks he knew there were residents that were opposing the paving).  The girls probably made dust with the salmon pink rambler he had bought for them to "drag main".  He also was a long time chaplain for the American Legion and definitely supported American Legion's Club 121, creating many fun memories.

His houseful of girls grew to include boys and just kept growing as sons-in-law and grandkids were added to the family.  He was a much-loved Grandpa who enjoyed hearing about the antics of his grandkids and honestly was probably secretly saying the parents deserved some of the "payback".  The visits and calls from nieces and nephews gave him lots of laughs and stories to tell.

In 1982 the family moved to Rapid City so Jenny would have more opportunities and services available. At the time most people would be thinking of retirement, he bought a Thermo King business which he owned for several years.  He was also active in Kiwanis and looked forward to his weekly coffee gatherings.  Tuesday mornings he met with a McLaughlin crew and was considered the historian and Tuesday afternoons were spent at the Millstone where he and his cronies solved the problems of the world.

Beyond grateful for sharing his long, abundant life are his wife Ruth, daughters Karmen (Tim) McCain, Sue (Leighton) Lien, Kathy (Jeff) Hoffman and Jenny; grandsons Seth (Becky) Neuharth, Matt and Ben Hoffman; granddaughters Kadie (Blake Martin), Brit Hoffman, Emma and Regan Lien, Leslie (Ben) Tronnes, Lisa Kleinsasser and Amy (Josh) Paulson, great grandchildren Will, Eden and Roslyn Neuharth, Levi Hoffman, Joslyn, Nora and Tabor Tronnes,  Marleigh Kleinsasser and Autumn and Rochford Paulson.

To be absent in the body is to be present with the Lord.  Big O, may you rest in that beautiful peace.

His Burial Service will be 11:00 am Monday, October 23, 2023 at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis with Full Military Honors.

Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be 1:00 pm Monday, October 23, 2023 at Calvary Lutheran Church, 5311 Sheridan Lake Road.

Memorials may be directed to Black Hills Works Foundation or Calvary Lutheran Church Quilters.

Arrangements with Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home.