LaVern E. 'Bud' Crippen, age 80, formerly of 1453 Idaho Ave. SE, Huron, died Sunday, November 30, 2008 at the Good Samaritan Village at Sioux Falls, SD.

His funeral service will be at 1:30 p.m. Thursday, December 4th, at the American Lutheran Church with burial at Restlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery with Military Rites by the Huron Veterans Council.

Visitation will be Wednesday from 1-8 p.m. at the Welter Funeral Home with the family present from 6-8 p.m. or Thursday afternoon one hour prior to the service at the church.

LaVern Edward Crippen was born on January 2, 1928, to James Edward and Hazel (Van Buskirk) Crippen on a farm near Alpena, SD. Because of bad weather the doctor was not able to make it so he was delivered by his dad. At the age of 18 years old he enlisted in the United States Marine Corps and served in China during World War II.

In 1948, he returned to South Dakota and farmed with his brother Roland. On May 29, 1953, Bud married Marian LaVon Walton in Huron. They made their new home in Artesian, where he was a Standard Oil Bulk Agent. During that time in Artesian he began what would be a long history of creating and building. He built two piper cub airplanes, a hangar and a runaway and acquired his pilot's license.

In 1966, they move to Huron and he joined the Huron Police Department. In 1968, he was appointed Juvenal Officer, a new position for the Huron Police Department. During his years as the Juvenile Officer he worked with and impacted the lives of over 2000 children.

He retired from the police force in 1980 and began his next career as a self-taught carpenter and metal machinist. Many people would come to his workshop over the years with antiques or broken items and feeling relieved when they left because of his ability to design a replica of a part that was no longer available whether it was wood or metal. On more than one occasion he helped out local businesses making parts for things from cranes, tractors, or bulldozers when something would break.

Over the years he also loved to create things. Marian would look out the kitchen window into the shop and see him sitting in front of his wood stove and know something new was coming. Although she never knew what was going to be coming out of his workshop next, his talents were good for us because he could also fix anything.

He created eagle sculptures cut from steel and using the inspiration of Old Abe, an eagle that served in the Civil War. His eagles had a seven foot wingspan. He also assisted in a project creating replicas of covered wagons on a 1/3 scale. These wagons took about 45 hours each to make. He was a perfectionist. Anyone who ever worked with him always heard his lecture about taking time to do things right. His favorite quote which everyone heard was "measure twice cut once."

He was a member of the South Dakota Peace Officers Association and the Huron Area Senior Center. His hobbies were flying, woodworking, and spending time with his grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife, Marian Crippen of Sioux Falls; two daughters, Carol (Ronald) Helseth of Hartford, SD and Cindy (Keith) Jackson of Cleveland, TN; five grandchildren, Nicholas (Stacey) Helseth, Jillian Helseth, Arlo Camp, Aaron Camp, and Abby Camp; two great-grandchildren, Ashton and Ryken Helseth; two sisters, Hazel (Raleigh) Carlton of Ada, MI and Jean (Bernard) Walton of Rapid City, SD; and one brother, Bill (Elaine) Crippen of Grain Valley, MO.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one brother, Roland, and six sisters, Stella, Inez, Ruby, Edna, Helen, and Dorothy.