Donald Roy Chord Sr., 88, White Owl, died Wednesday, December 3, 2008 at the Rapid City Regional Hospital.

Visitation will be noon until 9 p.m. on Monday at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, December 9, 2008 at the Central Meade County Community Center in Union Center with Pastors David Grotzke, Wes Labrier, and Wayne Williams officiating. Burial with military honors by the Sturgis Veterans Honor Guard follows at the White Owl Cemetery.

Memorials have been established to Sunshine Bible Academy and Liberty Baptist Tabernacle.

Don was born March 2, 1920 at White Owl, SD, to Roy and Edith (Clayton) Chord. He was the oldest of 12 children. He attended Metigoshe and Ridge Schools and graduated from the 8th grade.

He worked for a number of neighbors in the area including Ashton Shuck. He built dams before World War II.

Don served his country in the US Army Airforce as a corporal. He was a training crew chief and engineer on the B-17. He entered the service on May 4, 1942 and was honorable discharged on December 20, 1945 at Portland, OR. He worked different jobs in the state of Washington. He bought an Army DUKW (duck) Amphibious Truck and drove it back home to White Owl. He purchased the upper portion of his folks' place from his Mother in 1949, where Don ranched until his death.

Don raised cattle and horses. He hunted and trapped wild animals for furs to make income in the winter months.

Don accepted Christ as his personal Savior as a young man. He was a member of the White Owl Baptist Church for many years where he was a Deacon and Trustee. Later, in the 1980's he became a member of Liberty Baptist Tabernacle in Rapid City, SD.

He was on the Board of Deacons for the American Baptist Convention. He filled the pulpit for a number of churches until they could get a full time pastor. The churches included Union Center, White Owl, Dowling, Lakeside, Owanka, Folsom, Viewfield and Prairie Home. He helped organize the Meade County Sunday School Convention in 1953. Joyce first met Don at the Dowling Baptist Church.

Don married Joyce Lorraine Benson of Philip, SD, on August 16, 1953 at the White Owl Baptist Church. They celebrated their 55th anniversary in 2008.

Joyce raised 10 children on the ranch. All 10 attended Metigoshe School. All 10 graduated from Sunshine Bible Academy at Miller, SD.

Don was known for being a man of prayer. He often visited the sick and dying, leading a number of them to the Lord. He always rose early to read his Bible. He read through the Bible sometimes two and three times a year. He had a life practice of honoring the Lord's day. He did not want people to do work for him or hunt on his place on Sunday. He was very patriotic. He visited the legislature in Pierre, often. As a strong leader, his influence was felt by anyone who met him. He was often asked to lead in prayer. He would stand tall and lift up his voice to God.

Survivors include his wife Joyce L. Chord, White Owl; four sons, Clayton (Sally) Chord Edgemont, SD, Vernon Chord, Lewistown, MT, Donald (Ginger) Chord Jr., Sturgis, SD, Bryce (Ruth Ann) Chord, Destrehan, LA; five daughters, Pearl Brown, Ringgold, GA, Nancy (James McQuown, Rapid City, SD; Twyla (Mark) Walker, Cedar Rapids, IA, Marilyn (Mike) Huether, Wall, SD, Joyce "Joy" (Kevin) Buscho, Kilkenny, MN

Five Sisters, Zoe (Robert) Grotzke, Sheridan, MT, Doris Mickelson, Enning, SD, Iris Dau, Omaha, NE, Ruth (Randy Holden) Mayer, Dana Point, CA, Ilowee (Willis) Owens, Tucson, AZ; three brothers, Wayne (Bernice) Chord, Sturgis, Richard (Joan) Chord, Jamaica, Paul Chord, Prescott, AZ; also 34 grandchildren, 9 great grandchildren and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Roy and Edith Chord, one infant brother, two brothers, Vernon and Everett, and one son Robert Lawrence Chord.

Condolences may be sent to the family at www.kinkadefunerals.com.