Lewis Evan Belfrage, age 98, of Sioux Falls, South Dakota, formerly of Dell Rapids, and Colton, died on Saturday, January 19, 2013, at the Good Samaritan Village in Sioux Falls. Memorial services will begin at 2:00 P.M. Tuesday, January 22, 2013, at First Lutheran Church, Colton. Burial will precede the service at the Minnehaha Lutheran Cemetery, rural Colton. Visitation with the family present will be from 4-6:00 P.M. Monday, at the Minnehaha Funeral Home, Dell Rapids.
Lewis was born on a farm near Canton, South Dakota, on December 7, 1914, to Evan and Nellie (Snyder) Belfrage. He was the youngest of 10 children. He grew up in the Shindler, Humboldt, Buffalo Trading Post, and Montrose areas. Lewis married Evelyn Nelson on February 22, 1939. They resided in Sioux Falls until they started farming at Garretson, later moving to Beaver Creek, Minnesota, and then to Colton.
On October 14, 1971, Lewis married Violet Saalborn Gusarson. They retired and moved to Dell Rapids and finally to Sioux Falls in 2004. Lewis was active in the South Dakota Shorthorn Association, fast pitch softball, horseshoes, bowling, and golfing.
Lewis is survived by his wife, Vi, Sioux Falls; daughters: Pat (Robert) Richter, Sioux Falls, and Peg (Keith) Nelson, Dell Rapids; step-son, Doug (Linda) Gusarson, Stillwater, Minnesota;a step daughter-in-law, Claudia Gusarson, Los Gatos, California; five grandchildren; one step-grandchild; and nine great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his parents; nine brothers and sisters; a step-son, Don Gusarson; and his wife, Evelyn.