John M. Vainio, 80, Whitewood, died Sunday, August 28, 2011 at his home.

Memorial services will be 10 a.m. Saturday September 10, 2011 at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis.

A memorial has been established to the Hospice of the Northern Hills.

John was born October 17, 1930 on a farm Northwest of Newell, SD, to Werner and Lydia (Anderson) Vainio. The family moved to Whitewood Valley where his father operated a farm during the Depression years and through the 1940's. In 1947 the family moved to St. Onge. John graduated from Spearfish High School in 1948. In 1953 John started in the dairy business with his father. After the death of his father, John continued to operate the dairy farm.

On August 25, 1963, he married Laurie Fair at Lead, SD. Together, they continued to operate the dairy until 1997. They changed to beef and range cattle after 1997.

John was an avid musician and played the steel guitar in many bands. He started playing in 1950 and joined the Jim Fabricius Orchestra in 1951. They played for 21 years at the Golden Wheel Dance Hall in Whitewood.

In 2004 he joined the Classic Country Band and played with them the rest of his life.

John collected antiques. He had a large collection of radios and clocks.

Survivors include his wife Laurie Vainio, St. Onge; one daughter, Tina (Chris) Reeves, St. Paul, MN; one son, Curt (Debbie) Vainio, Stafford, VA; one sister, Frieda (Will) Waterson, Spearfish; one brother, Paul Vainio, Albuquerque, NM; also four grandchildren, Alexandra, Haley, Maddie and John; and several nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Lydia and Werner and his sister Vera Boe.

Click on link to view service folder