Don Elmer Strivens, 97, of Redfield, SD passed away with family at his side on Monday, April 18, 2022, at the Eastern Star Home in Redfield.

Visitation, with family present, will be Friday, April 22, from 5:00 – 7:00 p.m., at Hyke Funeral Home in Redfield.

Don's funeral service will be 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, April 23 at the Redfield United Methodist Church in Redfield.  Pastor Lorah Houser Jankord will officiate.  Burial, with military honors, will follow his funeral at Greenlawn Cemetery in Redfield.

The funeral will be live-streamed to the funeral home's website, below Don's obituary.  Arrangements have been entrusted to Hyke Funeral Home.  ( www.hykefuneralhome.com )

On January 7, 1925, Don was born to Carl S. and Millie May (Coulter) Strivens in Randolph, NE.   He enlisted in the United States Army in 1943 and was honorably discharged at the end of 1945.  During this time, he served as a Sergeant in WWII and was awarded the Purple Heart.  In his later years, Don was privileged to participate in an Honor Flight.

Don married Lillian S. DeLozier on February 10, 1946, in Magnet, NE.  He farmed for 11 years in Wausa, NE before beginning his 30-year career as a rural mail carrier for the U.S. Postal Service.

He was a proud life member of the NARFE and VFW as well as a member of the American Legion and National Letter Carrier Association.  Don was also a 50-plus-year member of the United Methodist Church.

Don will be missed by his children:  Louise (Tom) Auchampach of Garden City, ID; Lois Bealmear of East Dundee, IL; Darrell (Kristi) Strivens of Aberdeen, SD; Doris (David) Grunewaldt of Ashton, SD; Marcia (Kim) Benning of Hill City, SD; and Gloria (Greg) Brosius of Centennial, CO.  He is also survived by 15 grandchildren; 33 great-grandchildren; one great-great-granddaughter; and special friend Marilyn Schmidt.

He was preceded in death by his wife Lillian; daughter Marcene Rigsby; son-in-law Larry Bealmear; great-grandson Alexander Birchem; and siblings:  Robert (Verna) Strivens, Clifford (LaVern) Strivens, Luella Urish, and Mildred Spitzer.

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Thanks to the participants in Don's service:

Clergy:

Pastor Melissa Rowenhorst

Pastor Lorah Houser Jankord

Organist - Carol Esser

Soloist - Jessica DeYoung

Pallbearers:

Mark Auchampach, Jeff Auchampach, Tim Auchampach,

Allen Hague, Cory Wolff, Shane Bisson, David Brosius

Honorary Pallbearers - Don's Granddaughters

Military Honors:

Clay Kiser American Legion Post #92 - Redfield, SD

Paul A. Schleher VFW Post #2755 - Redfield, SD

SDARNG Military Honors - Watertown, SD

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