Gordon T. Lanam, age 90, of Huron, passed away on Friday, March 1, 2024, at the Huron Regional Medical Center.

His memorial service was held at 11:00 AM on Saturday, March 9, at the Kuhler Funeral Home in Huron. Military honors were conducted by the Huron Veterans Council.

View Gordon's Funeral Folder

His visitation with the family present, was held one hour prior to the service at the funeral home on Saturday.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations in Gordon's name be made to the Beadle County Humane Society.

Gordon T. Lanam, the son of Ora and Mary (Barth) Lanam, was born on August 28, 1933, in Mitchell. He attended school and graduated from Brookings High School. He also attended South Dakota State University. Gordon joined the United States Army National Guard on January 8, 1953. He retired from the guards as a Sergeant-Major on August 28, 1993, after 40 years of service.

Gordon married Shirley Johnson on December 18, 1954, in Pipestone, Minnesota.  The couple made their home in Brookings, before moving to Huron, where they have spent the last 50 years.

Gordon loved the outdoors, hunting, camping and gardening. His favorite pastime, however, was fishing. He enjoyed coffeetime with the guys, cooking, and he could fix anything. Gordon enjoyed spending time with his family and friends especially his grandkids. Spending time with family was Gordon's greatest joy. Vacations with his grandkids at the cabin on Lake Poinsett were some of the best! Gordon was an animal lover as well. His best buddies were his dog, Butch and his two cats, Sammy and Charlie.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his son, Scott Lanam; two sisters, Shirley Lanam and Bev Vance; and three brothers, Dwayne, Kenneth and Ora Lanam.

Grateful for having shared in Gordon's life are his wife, Shirley of Huron; three children, Pam (Charles) Speidel of Tea, Kelly (Darci) Lanam of Rapid City and Sandy (Reb) West of Chamberlain; five grandchildren, Derek (Allison) West of Sioux Falls, Shay Lanam of Sioux Falls, Kelsie Lanam of Brookings, Tyler (Chris) Lanam of Maple Grove, MN and Michelle (Josh) Moore of Watertown; two great-granddaughters, Blakely and Briar West of Sioux Falls; and several nieces and nephews.