Donald D. Friese, age 84, of Huron, passed away on Monday, July 11, 2016 at his home surrounded by family.

His memorial service will be at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, July 15, 2016 at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church with military honors by the Huron Veteran's Council. Inurnment will be at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, SD at a later date.

Memorial visitation with the family present will be one hour prior to the service at the church.

Don was born on February 21, 1932 in Wolsey, SD to Marvin and Anna (Dawes) Friese. He attended school in Wolsey and Huron.  After his high school graduation, he entered the U.S. Air Force on December 8, 1951. Don served in the avionics field repairing flight instruments until his honorable discharge on September 8, 1955 when he returned to Huron. He also attended Huron College and the University of South Dakota.

He was united in marriage to Joyl Nelson on November 16, 1957 at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church in Huron.

Don was a devoted and well-respected family man who enjoyed spending time with family and friends.  He spent time at the family cabin on Lake Byron and more recently at his place at West Whitlock.  He was an avid fisherman and loved to hunt pheasant and waterfowl with family and his good friends.  During his long retirement, he and Joyl cherished traveling, fishing, and spending time with their children and grandchildren.  Don had daily coffee at The Plains and a quick happy hour and 'shake of the day' with some of his best friends at The Sportsmans.

Don had a passion for airplanes and aviation, sports cars, and boats.  He had his pilot's license and owned his own plane when he was in his late teens.  His interests in aviation turned into a career he loved and enjoyed.  He worked for Braniff Airlines in Minneapolis and Brownsville, Texas.  He was the Huron Airport Manager for 30 years until he retired in 1991.  His passion for the airport and the job he loved did not stop there; he visited the airport or did a drive-by nearly every day since.

Don also was very active in the Huron community and is a past commander for the American Legion William Reaves Post No. 7 in Huron.  In addition, Don was very involved at church and was an Elder at Mt. Calvary Lutheran Church.  Don had a big part in the expansion of the Huron Airport and was the instigator and coordinator of Huron Air Shows which included the Thunderbirds.

Don was a man of few words.  If it wasn't worth saying, he didn't say it.  What he did say was always important, concise, and to-the-point.  He led a life of making good decisions, taking care of what's important, and followed his dreams and ambitions.  He was an exemplary leader and taught his children and grandchildren by example.

Don is survived by his wife, Joyl Friese of Huron; one son, Todd (Diane) Friese of Sioux Falls; two daughters, Jody (Doug) Minske of Huron and Jill (Jim) Mehle of Otsego, MN; one sister, Marvelle (Gayne) Stone of Willmar, MN; one sister-in-law, Lorna Friese of Sioux Falls; one brother-in-law, Curtis (Judie) Nelson of Otsego, MN; six grandchildren, Kristin, Jamae, Justine, Derek, Matthew, and Kassie; four great-grandchildren, Billy, Presley, Henry, and Josephine; many nieces, nephews and cousins.

Don was preceded in death by his parents; and one brother, John E. Friese.