Verlyn W. Hill, 98, of Brookings, died Monday, May 28, 2018, at the Neighborhoods at Brookview. 

Memorial services  are at 11 a.m. Saturday at Rude’s Funeral Home. Visitation is from 5 to 7 p.m. Friday at the funeral home.

Verlyn wished that memorials be directed to the George Dokken VFW Post 2118 in Brookings.

Verlyn was born on Feb. 23, 1920, near Worthing to Elmer and Alma (Stubstein) Hill. He grew up in numerous towns in eastern South Dakota, having moved 13 times in the ’20s and ’30s. 

He attended Bushnell and Brookings High Schools and later attended the aviation mechanics school at South Dakota State University.

Verlyn was always proud of his military service stretching from May 4, 1941 to July 18, 1945. His military travels as a crew chief on C-47 aircraft took him from California to Iceland, Greenland, Scotland, England, North Africa, Sicily, Italy and India. He was involved in the invasions of North Africa, Sicily, Italy and southern France. Among his many awards were the Distinguished Flying Cross, Air Medal with Clusters and the Presidential Distinguished Unit Citation. Verlyn married June Snyder on May 22, 1945. They had four children, Terrance, Donita, Lowell and Lorna. Verlyn settled on a farm near Aurora and farmed until going to assisted living in 2011. During his early years farming, he was employed in the winter months at various implement dealers as a mechanic.

Verlyn will be remembered for his quick wit and sense of humor. He enjoyed hunting and fishing as well as rifle shooting. He was active in small-bore target shooting for many years. Going to Oshkosh EAA fly-ins was enjoyed until his health would no longer allow him to attend. He was a member of the American Legion and a life member of the VFW and DAV.

He is survived by his children, Terrance (Priscilla) Hill of Aurora, Donita Graves, Wheatland, Wyoming, Lowell Hill, of Bruceville, Texas and Lorna (Lee) Roberts, of Gering, Nebraska; five grandchildren, five great-grandchildren, his siblings, Arlene Siebring, Grand Rapids, Michigan, Lavonne Strasser of Sioux Falls and Murl Hill of Sioux Falls and numerous nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, sister and brother.

Condolences may be sent to the family through www.rudesfuneralhome.com.