Richard Dick Small, age 81, of 827 Canary Lane, Huron, and formerly of Alpena, died Friday, November 11, 2005, at the Huron Nursing Home. His funeral Mass will be at 11:00 AM Monday, November 14, at Holy Trinity Catholic Church with Father Joe Holzhauser officiating. Burial will be at Restlawn Memory Gardens Cemetery with Military Rites by the Owens-Kunze American Legion Post #116 of Alpena. Friends may call Sunday afternoon and evening at the Welter Funeral Home or prior to the service at the church Monday morning. There will be a Scripture Service at 7:00 PM Sunday evening at the funeral home with the family present from 6:30 to 9:00 PM. Richard Small was born on June 7, 1924, to Robert and Helen (Dollenbacher) Small at Cavour, SD. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Patricks Catholic Church at Cavour. He graduated from Cavour High School in 1942. He attended Huron College until he entered the U.S. Army in March of 1943. He took his basic training at Fr. Riley, Kansas, and went overseas in June of 1943 where he served with the 37th Becon Troop Infantry Division in the Southwest Pacific Theater and the Philippine Islands. He was awarded the Bronze Star and Purple Heart. He was discharged as a Sergeant from Camp Beale, California, on December 17, 1945. He returned to South Dakota and worked for the U.S. Employment Service in Mitchell. On June 6, 1946, Dick married Doris Leighton at St. Martins Catholic Church in Huron. They returned to Huron in 1947. While attending Huron College he worked nights on the Huron Police Force, and on July 1, 1948, he began his career in the postal service working in Huron as a city carrier and then transferring to Alpena in October of 1952, as a rural mail carrier. He later transferred back to Huron, and retired from the U.S. Postal Service in 1990 after 45 years of service. Dick and his wife Doris owned and operated Leightons Liquor in Alpena for ten years at which time he became incorporated with Carl and Mabel Leighton at Leightons Lounge in Huron in a management position in which he held for 30 years. In 1995, he retired from Leightons Lounge and worked for Our Home, Incorporated. Dick was an active member of St. Wilfreds Catholic Church at Woonsocket where he was a lector. He is a former member of the BPOE of Huron, and a Staff Sergeant of the U.S. Army Reserve (196th Infantry Regiment of the South Dakota National Guard). When the 196th Infantry was converted, he served there and was rendered high discharge as a Master Sergeant. He was a member of the Forrest McMullen VFW Post #1776 of Huron, 40 et 8, past member of the DAVE, and also served as past Commander of the Owens-Kunze American Legion Post #116 of Alpena. He served as Jerauld County District 6 Commander, State Commander, and as an alternate national committeeman. He served as a service officer of the local post for 36 years, and as chairman of the State VAVS Committee. Dick was very active in the town of Alpena serving on the Alpena School Board and Jerald County School Board. He was chairman of the Reorganization Board of the Alpena School District, and served as cochairman of the Auditorium Committee of the Alpena Commercial Club for many years. He served for 38 years with the Alpena Fire Department and served two terms as fire chief. He was president of the PTA, cofounder and chairman of the Alpena Youth Program for many years. Dick was also president of the Jerauld/Sanborn County Rural Letter Carrier Association where he also served as vice president of District 6 RLCA. He was a delegate to many State conventions and served as cochairman of the South Dakota Postal Letter Carriers Association first booster meetings. He was also a member of the South Dakota State Liquor Dealers Association and served as district representative. He was chairman of the SDLD Resolution Committee. Dick has received listings in Whos Who in America, Whos Who in the Midwest, Personalities of the West and Midwest, The International Platform, and The Dictionary of International Personalities. He was chosen by the Alpena Journal as Alpenas most distinguished citizen in 1956. Other honors he received in his lifetime, include The Million Mile Safe Driving Award awarded by the National Safety Commission during his employment with the U.S. Postal Service, chosen Editor of the Year by the South Dakota American Legion for Post #116 reports in 1967, National Social Directory of New York City, titles of Honorary Colonel Tennessee Confederate Army, Honorary Admiral Alabama Navy, and has received recognition of 50 years with the American Legion Post #116 of Alpena. He is survived by 4 daughters, Jayne (Bobby) Hyde of Farmington, MN, Nancy (Bill) Dawson of Bridgeton, MO, Mary Susan Susie (Doug) Tschetter of Huron, and Gina (fianc Ray Polfus) Small of Huron; 5 sons, Bob (Linda) Small and Richard (Carla) Small both of Alpena, Pete (Sandy) Small of Rapid City, Steven (Melinda) Small of Huron, and A.J. (Mindi) Small of Huron; 24 grandchildren; 16 great grandchildren; 1 sister, Rose Ann Marlar of Mesa, AZ; and a number of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife Doris Doe Small in 2000, his parents, two brothers, Raymond and Robert Bus Small, a nephew Craig Small and a number of nieces. Casket bearers will be Randy Dawson, Patrick Tschetter, Leigh Tschetter, Jon Small, Cody Small, Andrew Small, Bryan Small, Sean Curington, Scott Small, Gage Small and Jayllen Small.