Leland Edward Seth (Lonnie)

Crosby, MN

1938, 1791, Custer, F-12,
1939, 793, Tigerville, F-15,

Leland Edward "Lonnie" Seth of Box Elder born, May 17, 1921, died Feb. 25, 2010, at Fort Meade Hospice in Sturgis.

Lonnie was born in Crosby, Minn., to Jake & Daisy (Stith) Seth. At age 17, Lonnie enlisted in the C.C.C.S. (CC Camps) and was in Black Hills Camps F-12 and F-15 at Hill City. In 1940 Lonnie enlisted in the Army National Guard 147th field artillery and joined 967th gun battalion. He participated in the battle of Guadalcanal, and in the defense of the Russell Islands. He was honorably discharged in 1944 and awarded the good conduct medal; the Asiatic Pacific Campaign medal, WWII Victory medal.

In the mid 1950's Lonnie returned to the Black Hills area. His employment as a plumber and pipe fitter included working on Titan and Minuteman Missile Sites, the Rapid City gasification plant and Rapid City Regional Hospital. He also operated "Lonnie's Auto Salvage," in Box Elder for over 20 years. Lonnie was a life-member member of the D.A.V. and 50 year member of the local plumber and pipe fitters union. He was active on the Box Elder City Council and Box Elder Planning and Zoning Committee for several years. For over 40 years Lonnie was active in amateur boxing, including the Indian Men's Boxing Club and Sturgis Veterans Boxing Team. Lonnie was also involved in commodity & clothing distribution in the Rapid City area for many years.

Some of Lonnie's interests were listening and playing bluegrass music and dirt track racing. He even sponsored a race car out at Black Hills Speedway during the early days of dirt track racing. For over 50 years Lonnie played Santa Claus for a number of events and organizations in the Rapid City area. He had a love of all animals' not just cats and dogs, over the years there were raccoons, skunk, horse, turtles, and a possum that Lonnie took care of. He enjoyed collecting certain John Deere tractors along with tinkering on them. He was a collector of cars big and small. He liked to work on almost anything mechanical.

Children: Carol Ann Sweet, Roy and Carol Seth, Oak Harbor, Wash., Gary and Betty Seth, Alexandria, Minn., Terry and Lisa Seth, Rapid City, Cynthia Dameron, Box Elder, Donna and David Norton, Rapid City, LeMoise and Donna Seth, Rapid City, Laurie and Larry Pope, Rapid City, Lila Flegel, Seattle, Wash., Dwayne and Barb Moser, Washington, Ricky Dean Seth-deceased, Vonnie Edward Seth-deceased. Leland has many grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

Spouses: Gladys Rodvold, of Minnesota; Louise Hall-deceased; Nellie Williamson-deceased; Joanne Griffey-deceased.

Leland was preceded in death by his parents, Jake and Daisy Seth; two children, Ricky Dean Seth and Vonnie Edward Seth; three spouses, Louise Hall, Nellie Williamson, and Joanne Griffey; two brothers, Donald and Delwin and one sister, Alice Harms.

Burial, with military honors provided by Rushmore VFW Post 1273 and the South Dakota National Guard, will be at Black Hills National Cemetery.

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