Larry Deis

Lawrence Deis, better known as "Larry" to his family and friends, was born August 23, 1924, at Onaka, South Dakota, to Lorenz and Theresa (Feist) Deis.  He grew up in the Onaka area and graduated from Onaka High School.

As a young man he joined the Army Signal Corps in Minneapolist, Minnesota, and during World War II he joined the U.S. Navy and served as a radar man, second class, aboard the U.S.S. President Jackson APA 18 in the Pacific Theater.

Larry was united in marriage to Mary Sahli on June 6, 1945, at Salinas, California.

After his discharge from the military, they made their home in Roscoe, South Dakota, where they both worked for Mary's father in the Sahli Red Owl Grocery Store.  In 1949 they moved to Dupree, South Dakota, where they owned and operated Deis's General Store until 1965.

In 1966 they moved to Philip, South Dakota, where they owned and operated Deis's Food Center until retiring in 1978 becuase of health reasons.  They have since made their home in Philip.

Larry was a member of Sacred Heart Catholic Church and a member of the Philip Knights of Columbus Council #2679.  He was also a member of the Wheeler-Brooks American Legion Post #173 of Philip.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Mary Deis of Philip; two daughters, Leanne (Mrs. Mick) Kennedy of Faith, South Dakota, and Julie Deis of London, England; six grandchildren: Reggie, Mikki, and Kyle Kennedy of Faith; Lee Hoven of Manhattan Beach, California; Lisa Gallien of Marina Del Ray, California; andVvikki Hoven of London, England; six sisters: Theresa Schmidt and Sister Helen Deis, both of Aberdeen, South Dakota; Rosemary Andrus and Kay McPeek, both of Salinas, California; Mary Deis of Pueblo, Colorado; and Clara Barondeau of Conde, South Dakota; and a host of other relatives and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, Jake, Joe, and John Deis; and two sisters, Josephine and Othelia.

Vigil Service
Monday, March 23, 1992
7:00 p.m.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Philip, South Dakota

Mass of Christian Burial
Tuesday, March 24, 1992
10:00 a.m.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church
Philip, South Dakota

Celebrant
Father Arnold Kari

Altar Servers
Jamie Gittings - Josh Kroetch - D.J. Rush

Knights of Columbus Honor Guard
Philip Knights of Columbus #2679

Music
Marianne Moriarty - Organist
Maureen Palecek - Vocalist

Lector
Joe Gittings

Ushers
Rick Palecek - Greg Weber - Marvin Cihak

Active Pallbearers
Tom Abourezk - Jerry Kroetch - Jerry Carley
Gene Michael - Ron Couch - Harold McDaniel
Edmund Baye - Leroy Aasby - Charles Rowcliffe
W.E. "Woody" Woodall - Bob Coyle - Jack Rush

Honorary Pallbearers
All relatives and friends in attendance

Interment with Military Honors by the
Wheeler-Brooks American Legion Post #173
Masonic Cemetery
Philip, South Dakota

Service Details

Mass of Christian Burial
Tuesday, March 24, 1992
10:00 a.m.
Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Philip