Milton Foreman was born August 31, 1928 on his grandparent’s homestead northeast of Belvidere. He was the first of three children born to Porter and Tillie (Blom) Foreman. When he was a young boy the family lost their home in a fire. His parents bought and moved to a farm four miles north of Belvidere.

Milton attended grade school at Valley School, a small country school in Jackson County. He graduated from Belvidere High School in 1946 and farmed with his father. He worked for the railroad a couple of summers and was later a heavy equipment operator with Jensen and Sanftner until he went into the service.

In October 1951 Milton enlisted in the Army. He spent 16 months in Germany and during this time, he received electrician schooling.

Home on furlough, Milton was united in marriage to LaVonne Gerdon, daughter of Bob and Pearl, on April 15, 1952 at Rapid City.

He received an honorable discharge from the Army on September 19, 1953.

Milton and Vonnie lived and ranched on the Thode Ranch south of Belvidere from 1954 until 1962, when at that time they moved four miles north of Belvidere and purchased the Foreman farm/ranch and raised wheat and cattle.

In addition to ranching and farming, Milton was a truck driver for many years. He hauled cattle for Harold Eckert from 1955 until the early 1970s and later was a fuel transport driver for Burns Bros. Truck Stop in Kadoka for 10 years. His handle on the CB radio during his truck-driving years was "shotgun."

Due to health reasons Milton and Vonnie moved to the Gateway Apartments in Kadoka October 28, 2004.

Milton served on the FSA committee for 15 years, was a member of the Peterson-Stoddard American Legion Post 144 for 53 years where he served the post commander, the post adjutant and he was the district commander for two years. Milton was also a member of the Belvidere Presbyterian Church.

One of Milton’s favorite hobbies was trap shooting, attending trap shoots across the state, and brought home numerous trophies. Milton was also an avid bowler. It wasn’t until his retirement years that he acquired a new hobby -- fishing.

There wasn’t a thing Milton would not tackle. He was a carpenter, plumber, electrician and a mechanic.

One of Milton’s happiest days was his birthday August 31st, 2004; his great-grandson, Carter Iversen, was born.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, LaVonne of Belvidere; two children Ronda Dennis and her husband Rick of Kadoka; Rod Foreman and his wife Kim of Hyannis, Nebraska; five grandchildren; Lori Iversen and her husband Aaron of Murdo; Bobbi Jo Eckert of Rapid City; two Marine grandsons Sgt. Ryan Foreman of Cairo, Egypt, Cpl. Brent Foreman of Kuwait and his wife Jessica of Lincoln, NE, and Mitchell Foreman of Hyannis; one great-grandson Carter Iversen; one sister, Connie Niedan and her husband Kenneth of Hershey, Nebraska and a host of other relatives and friends.

Milton was preceded in death by one infant son Neil, his parents; and one brother Conrad.

Memorial services will be held 11:00 a.m. Thursday, April 7, at the Belvidere Presbyterian Church in Belvidere, with Pastor Gary McCubbin officiating.

A memorial has been established.

MEMORIAL SERVICE
Thurday, April 7, 2005 11:00 a.m.
Belvidere Presbyterian Church
Belvidere, South Dakota

CLERGY
Pastor Gary McCubbin

MUSIC
Syd Iwan – Organist
Kim Foreman – Vocalist
"On Eagles Wings"
"If You Could See Me Now"

USHERS
Tom DeVries - Don DeVries

HONORARY PALLBEARERS
All Relatives and Friends in Attendance