Donald Ray Seaman, 96, formerly of Newell and Spearfish, South Dakota, passed away Saturday, June 10, 2023, at Fort Meade VA Hospital, Ft. Meade, SD. He was born in Baker, Montana, one of eleven children born to William Melvin Seaman and Mable Lucinda Scoles.

Don was a WWII Army veteran who trained to drive M5 and M5A1 tanks. He was very proud of his military service in the China-Burma-India (CBI) Campaign, and a lifetime member of Newell VFW Post 5807.

Following his military service, he was employed briefly with the Montana Dakota Utilities Company in Baker, Montana. He married Phillis Fern Lambert in 1948 in Miles City, Montana, and shortly thereafter they moved to Newell, South Dakota, where he operated a garage and gas station. They also operated a small farm in Newell where they raised their family. Don was also employed in Newell as a rural mail carrier with the U.S. Postal Service until his retirement in 1988 before moving to Spearfish. He loved to collect and restore antique John Deere tractors.

Don is survived by four sons: Dan, Spearfish, SD; Timm (Sharon), Roanoke, VA; Jerry (Dixie), Newell, SD; Randy (Pam), Tow, TX; daughter-in-law, Karen, Newell, SD; and numerous grand-children, great-grand-children and great-great-grandchildren.

Don was preceded in death by his parents; his loving wife of 65 years, Phillis; his youngest son, Tom; six sisters (Edyth, Nellie, Genevieve, Evonne, Agnes and Frances); and four brothers (Lester, James, Gary and Lyle).

In lieu of flowers, the family would like donations to the Newell VFW Post 5807, 18645 Youngberg RD, Newell, SD  57760.

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