Lawrence "Sonny" Ray Gleason, 83, Spearfish, and formerly of Sturgis, died Tuesday, October 31, 2017, at Edgewood Vista in Spearfish.

Sonny was a very hard working man he worked many different jobs throughout his life, from helping on the family farm at Red Owl, SD, to the Anaconda copper mine near Butte, MT. He worked for Pappy Hoel in his motorcycle shop, as well as working road construction for a local company in Sturgis, SD. He worked for a time at a family owned implement company and eventually he went to work for the animal damage control for the South Dakota Dept. of Game, Fish & Parks in February of 1984 until his retirement on February 9, 1996.

Sonny married Lila Eatherton. After her death he married Donna Rush in 1995.

In the early 70's, he was a member of the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club where he dedicated many hours of service from leading the Southern Hills tour during the Rally to maintaining the short track for races. He was a lifetime member of the NRA as well as The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation. Sonny was an avid hunter, fisherman, and a well-known trapper. He truly belonged in the great outdoors.

Survivors include his wife, Donna; sons, Randall, Rodney, and Robin (Debbie) Gleason; one daughter, Ronda Stephenson; step-children; Misty Myers Blakeman and Marty (Thomas) Myers; eight grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren.

He was preceded in death by his parents and first wife, Lila.

Memorial services will be 1:00 p.m. Saturday, November 18, 2017, at Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis. Inurnment will follow at the Bear Butte Cemetery near Sturgis.

In lieu of flowers, the family suggests memorials to the Alzheimer's Foundation or to Edgewood Vista.

Click on link to view service folder