Marvin Lewis Symonds, 89, Newell, died Monday, December 12, 2011, at the Fort Meade VA Hospital.

Visitation will be 3 until 9 p.m. on Thursday at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis with the family present from 5p.m until 7 p.m.

Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Friday, December 16, 2011 at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis with Pastor Tom Martin officiating. Burial with military honors by the Sturgis Veterans Honor Guard follows at the Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.

A memorial has been established to the Shriner's Transportation Fund.

Marvin was born February 20, 1922 at Cherokee, IA, to Lewis Robert and Pearl Francis (Anderson) Symonds. At the age of one he moved with his parents to a ranch near Sulphur, SD. He grew up on the ranch and attended Royal Center Country School. After completing his education he worked for area ranchers herding sheep and cattle. He was drafted into the US Army and served his country in India, Burma and China during World War II. Following his honorable discharge he returned home and continued to work for area ranchers.

He married Ilene Knutson at Rapid City on September 26, 1947. The couple bought their first ranch in 1954. They raised hogs, cattle, sheep and farmed east of Newell. Following their retirement in 1985, they moved to Newell in September of 2009 where Marvin enjoyed a good game of cards and like to visit Deadwood. He was an excellent neighborhood mechanic.

Marvin was a lifetime member of the VFW and American Legion.

Survivors include his wife Ilene Symonds, Newell; one son Ben (Susan) Symonds, Hulett, WY; daughters, Nancy Tennis, Newell, Dawn (Calvin) Griffin, Belle Fourche; brother, Don (LaVonne) Symonds, Longmont, CO; sisters, Hope (Clint) Septka, Sturgis, Wanda Hogan, Sturgis, Ardith Holmes, Casper, WY, Lamerne Lee, Laramie, WY; also 13 grandchildren, 17 great grandchildren; sisters-in-law, Mavis Symonds, Sturgis and Dolly Symonds Lotus, California.

He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers, two sisters, one grandchild and one great grandchild.

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