Kenneth Freeman, Mitchell

Kenneth Howard Freeman, 84, Mitchell, died Tuesday, Aug. 24, 2010, at Avera Brady Health and Rehab, Mitchell.

Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday at First Lutheran Church, Mitchell. Burial will be in Servicemen’s Memorial Cemetery, Mitchell, with military graveside rites. Visitation will be from 6 to 8 p.m. today at Bittner Funeral Chapel, Mitchell, with a 7 p.m. prayer service.

He was born on May 19, 1926, at Ashland, Wis., to Earl and Hazel (Downey) Freeman.

He grew up and attended school at Ashland and graduated from Ashland High School in 1944, ahead of schedule.

He joined the U.S. Navy at 17 and fought during World War II. He served aboard a troop landing ship in the Pacific Ocean and saw action in the Philippines and Okinawa.

On June 18, 1949, he married Joyce Nelson in Ashland.

They moved to Mitchell, where he worked for his uncle at Tom Freeman Dodge Desoto Motor Company and later for Iverson Max Motors after the business was sold.

He was then a letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service for 31 years, until retiring in August 1988.

He was a member of the first Honor Flight for World War II veterans from South Dakota in May 2009.

He was a member of First Lutheran Church, past commander of Mitchell American Legion and a member of VFW.

He is survived by his wife, four children: Susan Strand and husband Cal; David and wife Kathie; and Ron and wife Paula, all of Mitchell; and Richard, Sioux Falls; six grandchildren, six stepgrandchildren, four great-grandchildren, a sister, Beverly Searing, Waterford, Wis.; and a sister-in-law, Shirley Mersy, Vista, Calif.

He was preceded in death by an infant sister, Gwendolyn; his parents, a daughter-in-law, Tracy Freeman; a sister-in-law, Nancy Fragomini; and a brother-in-law, Bud Searing.

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