Kenneth Adolf Rear, 65, Whitewood, died Monday, June 7, 2010, at his home in Whitewood.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, June 15, 2010 at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis with Rev. Brian Carpenter officiating. Burial follows at the Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis with military honors by the Sturgis Veterans Honor Guard.

A memorial has been established.

Kenneth was born October 10, 1944, at Waubay, SD, to Haakon and Enid (Lauseng) Rear. He attended school at Cutting 59 and Florence before moving to Watertown. He was drafted into the US Army on July 20, 1965 and served as an E4 with C Company, 2nd battalion, 1st air mobile division of the 7th Calvary.

He was honorably discharged and was awarded the National Defense Service Medal, Expert Rifle, Vietnam Service Medal, Republic of Vietnam Service Medal, Combat Infantry Badge and the Good Conduct Medal. Following his service to our country he returned home and worked in mining, the oil fields, truck driving and farming, before moving to Whitewood.

He enjoyed fishing, hunting, gold panning and playing pinochle with family.

Survivors include his sister, Lois Hafner, Sioux Falls; brother, Darcy (Kay) Rear, Lead; and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his father, Haakon, mother, Enid and stepfather Ned Henry; three brothers, Lester, Raymond and Dale Rear.