Orvil Robert "Buck" Buchanan, 91, Hot Springs and formerly of Sturgis, died Friday, March 3, 2006, at the State Veteran's Home in Hot Springs.

Visitation will be Tuesday from noon until 9 p.m. Funeral services will be at the First United Methodist Church on Wednesday, March 8, 2006, at 11 a.m. with Rev. Keith Nelson officiating. Burial will be at a later date at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.

Buck was born January 4, 1915, at Buffalo, SD, to Berl O. and Clara K. (Mendenhall) Buchanan. He attended school in Belle Fourche and graduated from Belle Fourche High School in 1932. He joined the US Navy and served from 1936 to 1940 and served on the USS Mississippi, USS Black Hawk, and the USS Pillsbury. His tour was overseas, which included a 2 and 1/2 year tour of the Philippines and China. After returning home, he met and married Rebecca M. Morrison on May 4, 1941, in Sturgis. They moved to Tracy, CA, where he was stationed in the US Army from 1942 to 1946. Patricia and Katherine were born in California. After his service discharge, they returned to Sturgis in 1949, where Robert, Paul, Kenneth, and Ruth were born.

Orvil was employed at the Fort Meade Veteran's Hospital as a nursing assistant from December 12, 1949 until his retirement on June 25, 1970, with a total of 29-1/2 years of government service. Orvil was an avid gun collector, repairing and making stocks and loading shells. In his younger years, he was an avid hunter. He enjoyed playing the accordion for his own enjoyment. He also enjoyed attending the Polka Festivals at the Mitchell Corn Palace. Buck was a life member of the DAV Chapter 11, VFW Unit 2730, and the NRA. He served on the firing squad for 11 years.

Buck is survived by three sons, Robert W. and, his wife, Kathie, Buchanan, Anaheim, CA, Paul O. Buchanan, Cameron Park, CA, and Kenneth L. Buchanan, Vacaville, CA; three daughters and their husbands, Patricia E. and Bernard Hart, Rapid City, SD, Katherine M. and John Daum, Spearfish, SD, and Ruth R. and Mark Rave, Trent, SD; one sister, Velma Williams, Spearfish, SD; ten grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.

His parents, his wife, and two sisters, Neola Wilson and Viola Andrews, preceded him in death.

A memorial has been established to First United Methodist Church in Sturgis.