Elmer Leon Tryon, 94, Spearfish and formerly of Newell, died Friday, June 4, 2010 at the Dorsett Health Care Facility in Spearfish.

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

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Wednesday, June 9, 2010 at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis with Pastor Tom Martin officiating. Burial follows at the Hope Cemetery near Newell.

A memorial has been established to the Shriner's Crippled Children's Hospital.

Elmer was born January 9, 1916 at Hoover, SD, to Glenn and Anna (Mestmacher) Tryon. He grew up on the family ranch and helped shepherd the neighbors' sheep. In 1935 he joined the CCC's and built roads and trails in Arkansas and South Dakota through 1937. He returned home and continued to work for neighbors. In 1943 he started working for American Colloid in the bentonite plant.

On November 20, 1955 Elmer married Fern Wyman at Spearfish, SD. They lived in Belle Fourche until 1957 when Elmer bought a farm near Newell. Elmer farmed and worked at the Sugar Beet Factory near Belle Fourche until it closed. Elmer continued to farm until 1997 when he moved to Belle Fourche.

Elmer was a member of the NVN Senior Center and the Belle Fourche Senior Center. Elmer loved to play cribbage with anyone and everyone especially those he could beat soundly. He was an accomplished harmonica player.

Survivors include brother in laws, Wayne Freeland, Lead, Merle Wyman, Nevada; sister in laws, Paulette Tryon, Belle Fourche, Ida Tryon, Hoover; also numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife Fern, brothers, Robert, Tom and Charles; two sisters, Dorothy Freeland and Blanche Tryon.