L. W. "Bill" Marlow, 88, of Faulkton, SD, and formerly of Redfield, SD, died Sunday, April 20, 2008 at Dorsett Regional Senior Care in Spearfish, SD. His funeral will be Thursday, April 24, 2008 at 10:00 a.m. at Thelen Funeral Home in Redfield. Reverend Stephen Perry will officiate. Burial will be in Greenlawn Cemetery in Redfield with full military rites. Visitation will be Wednesday from 1-8:00 p.m. at Thelen Funeral Home. www.thelenfuneralhome.com Memorials may be directed to Alzheimer's research.

Bill was born August 14, 1919 to James and Ada (Sheldon) Marlow on a farm near Frankfort, SD. Bill was working in the steel mill in Gary, IN when he was drafted into the United States Army. He spent close to two years in an Infantry Division seeing heavy combat in Germany, France and Italy. Bill earned a Purple Heart for wounds received in combat and spent an extended period of time in a military hospital.

Bill married LaVeda Jablinske February 4, 1937 in Aberdeen. Bill spent the remainder of his working career as a farmer and rancher near Zell and Hosmer before moving to Redfield and working at South Dakota Developmental Center-Redfield until he retired. Bill had an especially close relationship with his parents and was very proud of his Irish ancestry.

Bill had a passion for fishing, hunting, dogs and horses. He trained horses after his military service and raised German Shorthair hunting dogs and trained dogs after moving to Redfield.

Bill is survived by his daughters: Luella (Chuck) Paul of Sturgis, SD; and Linda (Dennis) Heap of Phoenix, AZ; two granddaughters: Laurel (Steve) Sahli of Rapid City, SD; and Rochelle Bateman of Phoenix, AZ; and his long time friend Kristine Foreman.

Bill was preceded in death by his parents, his wife LaVeda in 1987, his only grandson Police Officer Shawn James Leinen, his brothers: Marion and Harold and an infant brother.