Don Hanley, age 86, of Huron, SD, died Thursday, December 17, 2009, at Huron SunQuest Healthcare Center.

His funeral service will be 1:30 p.m. Tuesday December 22, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church in Huron with burial at Broadland Cemetery and MIlitary Rites by the Huron Veterans Council.

Visitation will be 1-8 p.m. Monday, December 21, at Welter Funeral Home with a Scripture Service at 7:00 p.m.; or Tuesday afternoon one hour prior to service at the church.

Donald James Hanley was born May 24, 1923, at Hawarden, IA, to James and Laura (Nordman) Hanley. He graduated from Huron High School. During high school, he was employed by F. W. Woolworth.

He enlisted in the U.S. Air Force in 1942 and reported for duty at Superior, WI, for basic training and was a member of the Air Force Marching Band. He graduated from La Junta Flying School, CO, and was commissioned a Lieutenant in 1944. He was assigned overseas to the 317th Troop Carrier Group and flew C-47s during WWII. He received three Bronze Stars on his Asiatic-Pacific Ribbon for participation in the New Guinea, Philippines and Luzon Campaigns and one Bronze Star on the Philippine Liberation Ribbon.

After the war, he graduated form South Dakota School of Mines with the degree in Civil Engineering and was employed by the Bureau of Reclamation. He was employed at Scott Engineering of Watertown, SD, when he married Bernadine Simon of Hoven, SD, on August 30, 1950. In 1953 they moved to the Hanley homestead at Broadland, SD, where they farmed and ranched for 30 years. He and his wife were honored at the South Dakota State Fair for having a Century Farm in the same family for more than 100 years. They retired to Huron in 1986.

He was a very active community leader, having served 20 years as a Fairfield Twp. Clerk, past Director of James Valley Co-op, a 4-H leader and past Kiwanis member, Sec.-Treasure of Broadland Cemetery Association for 43 years. He was nominated Outstanding Young Farmer in 1958. He belonged to William reaves American Legion Post 7, Color Guard, and past Historian, Forrest McMullen VFW Post 1776, Fairfield Twp. election committeeman, Old Michigan Grange Master, assisted Salvation Army Christmas Basket Program, and 20 years activities member with RSVP at Huron Nursing Home.

Don was a member of Holy Trinity Catholic Parish and St. Martins where he served as usher and council member.

Don is survived by his wife, Bernadine; sons, James (Kathy) Hanley of Rapid City, Michael (Mary) Hanley of Cave Creek, AZ, and Stephen (Brenda) Hanley of Lake Madison; seven grandchildren, Matthew, Laura, Molly, Michael, Mark, Marissa Hanley, and Kandice (Tony) Schlagel, and many nieces and nephews.

Don was preceded in the death by parents; father-in-law and mother in law, Ed and Mary Simon; and brother, Robert; 5 brothers-in-law; 6 sisters-in-law.