Duane Larson, 94 of Brandon, formerly of Chester, passed away on Sunday, October 29, 2017. His funeral service is at 2:00 p.m. on Monday, November 6, 2017 in the Chester United Methodist Church. Visitation is two hours prior to the start of the service in the church. Interment with military honors is in the Pleasant Hill Cemetery, Chester. Funeral arrangements are under the care of Kahler Funeral Home, Dell Rapids.
Duane A. Larson was born May 9, 1923 in Bridgewater, SD. He was the eldest of August and Gwendolyn (McMartin) Larson’s eight children. He married Vivian Jenson, June 20, 1944. On October 29, 2017, he passed peacefully into Glory.
On January 18, 1945, Duane enlisted in the US Army. He achieved the rank of Sargent and served as the assistant to a general on Guam and Saipan. Duane was extraordinarily proud of his service during World War II.
After returning from the Army, Duane farmed in the Chester area and was a custodian at the Chester School. In 1963, Duane was named Postmaster in Chester. In 1986, Duane became the Supervisor, Bulk Mail at the Sioux Falls Regional Post Office until his retirement in 1990.
Duane was a servant for his community. He was a member of the American Legion Arthur Peterson Post 136 for 57 years serving as Adjutant for many of those. He served on the board of directors for Interlakes Telecommunications Cooperative, Lake County Zoning Board, and Chester Sanitary District. He was a long-time volunteer fireman in Chester. He was a long-time Chester Booster Club member and recipient of Booster of the Year. Duane was a Lay Speaker in the United Methodist Church, speaking and leading services across the region, as well as Sunday School teacher and custodian for the church in Chester.
Grateful for having shared in his life are a daughter Kathleen, siblings Eileen Keese, Fay (Shirley), Russell (Evelyn), Carl (Dixie), and Martha Nelson, and many nieces and nephews. He was proceeded in death by his parents, wife Vivian, brother David, and sister Elizabeth.
Duane was an unassuming man, happy to serve others in ways that brought little fanfare to himself. He had friends far and wide with no one remaining a stranger. He served God and Jesus Christ by serving others as son, husband, father, and friend.