Huron: Dr. Wayne Russell Kelley, 82, of Huron died Oct. 18, 2012, at his home. His funeral service will be at 10 a.m. Monday, Oct. 22, at Mount Calvary Lutheran Church in Huron with burial at 2 p.m. Monday at Riverside Cemetery in Aberdeen, with military honors by Aberdeen American Legion Post. Visitation with family present will be Sunday from 6 to 7:30 p.m. at Welter Funeral Home in Huron, with a prayer service at 7:30 p.m. or Monday morning one hour prior to the service at the church. Memorials may be sent to the Mount Calvary Lutheran Church Preschool or SmileTrain.org.
Wayne Russell Kelley, son of Glenn and Sigrid (Lindell) Kelley, was born on Feb. 23, 1930, in Scottsbluff, Neb. He spent his first seven years in several towns in central Nebraska, as his father acquired teaching positions of greater responsibility. His family moved to Aberdeen in 1937, where he graduated from Aberdeen Central High School in 1947 and Northern State College in 1951, majoring in physical science with an emphasis in chemistry and minors in mathematics and history.
He served as a U.S. Marine (1951-53) in squadron and wing intelligence and operations positions in California fielding helicopter units and in the Korean War. He was honorably discharged on Sept. 21, 1953, at the rank of sergeant. His fellow Marines' achievements are in the book, Cavalry of the Sky.
He wed Evelyn Larson on June 20, 1954, in Aberdeen. He earned his doctorate from the University of Minnesota in 1957. He returned to South Dakota and established his family in Huron after graduating from dental school. Dr. Kelley practiced for 43 years. He retired in 2000.
He was a member of the Mount Calvary Lutheran Church, where he served as president multiple times and in other capacities, the South Dakota Dental Association, where he served as the president of the Southern District of the Dental Society, the Huron Dental Society, serving as president for 20 years, a life member of the American Dental Association, the National Society of Dental Practitioners, the Xi Psi Phi Dental Fraternity, and the Huron Rotary chapter, where he served as president and in other offices. His many interests included pheasant and waterfowl hunting, traveling, reading, watching the Minnesota Vikings, drawing, yard work and spending time with his family.
He is survived by his wife of 58 years, Evelyn, of Huron; three children: John Kelley (Kate) of Spearfish, Mary (Allen) Harju of St Charles, Ill., and Susan (Tom) Fritz of Tucson; 10 grandchildren: Robert Kelley, Megan Zilberstein, Andrew Kelley, Russell Harju, Kelley Bryan, Alanna Harju, Tyler Harju, Rachel Harju, Elizabeth Fritz and Sarah Fritz; three great-granddaughters; and nephews: Glenn (Maureen Reeder) Kelley and David Kelley; niece, Anne (Marc) Conklin; and many other nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents: Dr. and Mrs. G.O. Kelley; and brother and sister-in-law, Justice G.E. and Margaret (Archer) Kelley, respectively.
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