Marvin Whites, age 92, of rural Iroquois, SD, died Sunday, July 29, 2012, at Royal C. Johnson VA Medical Center in Sioux Falls. His funeral service will be 10:00 a.m. Friday, August 3, at St. Paul's Catholic Church in Iroquois with burial at Maplewood Cemetery and military honors by American Legion Bensley-Rounds Post #280 of Iroquois. Visitation will be Thursday from 2-8 p.m. at Welter Funeral Home with family present from 6-8 p.m. and a scripture service at 7:00 p.m.; or Friday morning one hour prior to the service at the church. Marvin Russell Whites, son of Owen and Eliza (Ellison) Whites, was born on February 18, 1920, near Osceola, SD. He attended Country Schools around Iroquois and one year at Iroquois High School, On March 18, 1942, Marvin entered the U.S. Army and served in the European-African-Middle Eastern Theater during World War II. He was a member of the 7th Army in anti-aircraft artillery. He rotated between the 63rd and 36th infantry divisions, the 12th Armored Division, and the French 1st Division. When the war was over Marvin was in Kitzbuhel, Austria. He returned to Mannheim, Germany, and served with the Army of Occupation until his honorable discharge on November 28, 1945. During the war he was a director operator, rifle expert, and SMG gun expert. World War II medals he received were Good Conduct Medal; Victory Medal of WW II; European-African-Middle Eastern Theater Medal with two battle stars; War Zone medal; and Army of Occupation Medal. He returned home and was engaged in trucking and farming in the Iroquois area until his retirement in 1979. Marvin, then, was part time employee of the Beadle County Soil Conservation Services for 13 years planting trees. On December 2, 1950, Marvin married Hope Houlihan at St. Martin's Catholic Rectory in Huron by Rev. Vern Neer. They moved to a farm five miles north and one mile west of Iroquois. Marvin and Hope published the Iroquois American Legion Post Newspaper The Grenade from 1967-1975 for which they won many state and national awards. Marvin was a member of St. Paul's Catholic Church in Iroquois; charter member (and the last living charter member) of American Legion Bensley-Rounds Post#280 of Iroquois; Banner Township Clerk for over 30 years; 4-H leader for 15 years; square danced for 15 years; and past president of Iroquois School PTO. He is survived by his daughter, Dr. Margery Whites Roth and her husband, Dr. Lawrence Roth of St. Cloud, MN; son, Ronald Whites and his special friend, Lisa Sween of Iroquois; sister-in-law, June Whites of Aberdeen; many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Hope on April 16, 2005; 7 brothers and spouses, infant Marion, Reese (Ruth), Bruce (Helen), Eldon (Burdette), Hugh (Evelyn & Claire), Harold "Tiny" (Dorothy), and Melvin "Gene"; 2 sisters and spouses, Ruth (Roy) Noe, and Bertha (John) Sweeney); 2 nephews, Bob Whites, and Jim Whites; and 2 nieces, Shirley Pullman, and Corene Kurtis. .