Maurice H. Haven, 93, of Turton, SD died Wednesday, October, 1, 2008 at Community Memorial Hospital in Redfield, SD. His funeral will be Monday, October 6, 2008 at 11:00 a.m. at the Brentford United Church of Christ. Reverend Jon Damaska will officiate. Burial will be in the Mellette Cemetery. Visitation will be Sunday from 2-8:00 p.m. with a prayer service at 7:00 p.m. at Thelen Funeral Home in Redfield. www.thelenfuneralhome.com

On May 30, 1915, Maurice was born to Herman Henry and Hazel Belle (Boor) Haven on the family farm west of Brentford. He attended both Brentford elementary and high school, graduating in 1933. Maurice played basketball in school and continued to play on the Alumni League, even earning a state award.

When the depression hit, Maurice shoveled coal from railroad cars that came to town, tended to his uncle's livestock, walking between the farms. Once in a blizzard, he realized he was walking in a circle when he saw his own footprints in the snow. He managed to find the fence line and returned home. He sprayed the ditches with poison molasses to kill the grasshoppers. With little other employment, Maurice rode the train to the Black Hills and joined the CCC Camp at Custer, SD. He spent one month alone in the lookout tower at Bear Mountain as a fire watcher. After a year of service he returned home. The drought conditions continued, and with no farming to be done, he rode the rails to Washington State, finding work on a chicken farm.

Maurice returned to South Dakota and on June 25, 1938, he married Elaine Olson of Turton. Maurice drove the Brentford school bus and farmed with his father. Elaine continued to teach in the country schools of Tetonka district. In 1941, they purchased the Allbee farm six and a half miles west of Turton and a quarter mile from Elaine's parents, where they raised their three children, Terry Dean, Dennis Carter, and Darlene Della. Along with farming and livestock, Maurice was employed by the South Dakota Wheat Growers Association and served many elevators in the area from Aberdeen to Tulare. In 1946, Maurice, Elaine and baby Terry were baptized at the United Church of Christ in Brentford. Maurice served on the church board, was also a Boy Scout leader, an assistant Explorer Advisor, involved with 4-H clubs, and a member of the Farmers Union. He served the City of Brentford as the town cop during the Legion Teen dances and other events. One of his greatest enjoyments in life was square dancing. Maurice and Elaine traveled to Europe, Hawaii, Canada and even a Caribbean cruise with their dancing friends. When his knee was replaced and he was no longer able to dance, he took up square dance calling, and taught his grandchildren and area youths how to dance.

Maurice has always had a special love for children and those less fortunate. He volunteered his time and talent in Aberdeen, to the developmentally disabled. Bringing music, dancing and laughter to them. He was nominated and received a certificate of Recognition of outstanding service and leadership to the developmentally disabled citizens of South Dakota. This was presented to him at a nation banquet in Dallas TX on March 3, 1986, from the Us Department of Health and Human Services. Many summer weekends he would be in the grandstands to watch his two sons race their modified stockcars. When seasons began to change Maurice and Elaine spent winters in Arizona enjoying new friends and the weather.

Surviving are his wife Elaine, children Dennis (Rita) Haven of Brentford, Terry (Pam) Haven of Britton, Dolly (Steve) Jankord of Sioux Falls; twelve grandchildren and eighteen great grandchildren; his sister Patsy Mitchell of Brentford; eight nephews and three nieces.

Preceding him in death were his parents, Herman and Hazel, his stepmother Gladys Deloy Haven, his brother Robert, his sister Dorothy Thiel, his grandson Anthony John, his great granddaughter Gracen Tamara and his niece Sally Thiel.