I was born February 26th, 1932 in the small farming community of Chester, Sd.  My father, EJ Daniel, taught vocational agriculture and music in the Chester school system and mother, Gladys, was a home maker.  I had an older brother named Duane.  Our family moved to Brookings, SD when I was 5 years old.  I attended the 5th grade in Chamberlain at a school on a hill overlooking the town.  As a 6th grader, a salesman for the Mitchell Daily Republic contacted me to be a paper route delivery boy.  I rode to the depot for the Milwaukee Train to pick up the papers for delivery on a bicycle my father purchased for me.

On Sunday December 7th, 1941, while eating dinner we heard the news on the radio that Pearl Harbor had been attacked by the Japanese.  The next day school was canceled, President Roosevelt declared war on Japan.

After completing 6th grade, dad received an appointment in the Soil Conservation Service and we moved to Huron, SD.  I attended 7th -12th grades in the Huron School System and graduated in 1950 with 113 students in my class.   I was active in choir and Boys Glee Club.   I attended one year in Huron College, at which my older brother Duane was also attending.  That fall I transferred to SDSC.  I dropped out the following spring quarter and found a job in a new supermarket at Ed and Eb's.  The fruit manager took me under his wing and made me his assistant.

The Korean War broke out and I was drafted in March 1953, along with 50 guys.  After basic, I was chosen for field wire school communication.  Upon graduation, I rode the train to Port Archer in the Gulf.  We trained for a week then left on the U.S.S. William Weigel for Japan.  We entered Yokohama Harbor and unloaded at Camp Drake.  I was there one week and was chosen to replace troops in South Korea.  My first assignment was north of Seoul guarding prisoners until the exchange and later was assigned to the 44th AAA Brigade in Suwon, Korea, a big airbase which had the Sabor jets.  I worked in the headquarter office which assigned incoming personnel to the other bases.

I took an early release to continue my education, returning to Huron and majoring in music, band, and chorus.  During my senior year, under my vocal director, Professor Brown, I sang a senior recital.  I also played French horn in the community orchestra under the direction of Professor Patterson.  My first teaching job was in the small town of Alpena, SD and then in Carthage, SD.  I became reacquainted with Marlys Chapman, who worked for the Social Security office in Huron and we began to date.  She moved to Rapid City, SD where she continued her work.  I finally talked her into marriage on the third try (third time is the charm!) and we married on June 17th 1961 at the Huron Presbyterian Church.  I taught music in New Underwood for two years and Gettysburg for three years, where we adopted our daughter, Kathy, in 1967.  Later on, I conducted the music department in Gunnison, Colorado and started my Master's degree at Western State College.  There I played French horn in the summer program.  The music department was directed by Dr. Hawkins, who arranged the background music for the movie How the West was Won.  It was there I met Leo Getsgo, the band director in Sturgis and applied for a music job in Sturgis.  I taught Senior High vocal and assisted Leo by directing the 7th grade band.  Later on, I became a full-time band director, which I directed for 22 years, retiring in 1992.

From 1992 on, I was an active member of the Sturgis community with such organizations as the Sturgis Optimist Club, Kiwanis Club, Meals on Wheels, Methodist Men, and VFW.  I was also a faithful member of the cribbage and coffee group.  I spent my last few years with my cat Simba at Aspen Grove Assisted Living, living life to the fullest, making new friends and enjoying old.

Lowell E. Daniel passed away at the age of 93 on August 17, 2025.

Lowell is survived by his daughter Kathy Albers (Jhett), his grandchildren Austin Albers (Maggie) and Abby Albers- O'Brien (Michael), his great grandchildren Emmitt and Ellison Albers, and his beloved fur baby Simba (Cat).

He is preceded in death by his wife, Marlys; his father, EJ Daniel; his mother, Gladys Daniel; and his brother, Duane Daniel.

Memorial donations may be made to the music programs in the Sturgis School District and to the Sturgis United Methodist Church.

Lowell Daniel Service Folder