Levi Dean Luvaas

Levi D. Luvaas, age 80, Brookings, formerly of the Clark/Bradley communities, died early Monday morning, October 29, 2012 in the Brookview Manor at Brookings. Memorial services will be held on Monday, November 5, 2012 at 1:00 PM in the Furness Funeral Home Chapel at Clark with The Reverend Warren Rhodes officiating. Dave & Carol Finstad will provide special music. Burial with full military honors will follow in the Prairie Hill Cemetery at Bradley. There will be no visitation. He was born Levi Dean Luvaas on March 24, 1932 in Day County, near Butler, SD, the son of Osvald and Edith (Faulkner) Luvaas. Shortly after his 18th birthday, on March 31, 1950 he entered the Army Air Force and continued active duty until being honorably discharged on May 15, 1963 at the rank of TSgt E-6. He served in the United States Army from January 1948 thru October 1948 and then the United States Air Force from March 1950 to May 15,1963. Levi enjoyed traveling and seeing the world, making many friends in foreign countries and several states. He worked for 5 years in Southeast Asia on an aircraft for the US Army, the US Air Force & served for over 3 years in Vietnam. Among the decorations and citations he received was the Army of Occupation Medal in Japan, the National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal (w/4br) LPS and AFLSA (w/2br OLC) He has remained best friends with a former serviceman by the name of Leland Hagen who lives in Bryan, TX. He received his GED in 1952 and completed 3 semesters of college in 1953 while in the service. During his military duty, he was married to Patricia Stevens on August 10, 1953 in Dallas, TX. To this marriage a daughter, Marlene, was born. Levi will long be remembered for his love of animals, especially a little dog he had named "Pooch", his best friend and companion he would say, and often would comment about him going onto "Doggie Heaven". He was a jack of all trades, fixing nearly everything and anything that needed repairing; he seemed to have a way to figure it out. Another favorite pastime of his was storytelling, often about his world travels, some of the good and the bad times he experienced. He loved reminiscing about growing up on the farm and some of the special moments- especially funny things - that happened. As you all know too, Levi had a special bond with his late cousin Glen Luvaas, talking about him often after he passed away and how much he missed him- you know the two of them are catching up now. After moving to Brookings to be closer to dialysis, he often talked about how much he missed Clark and the Wookey Center. Residents missed him also at the Wookey Center as he was the unofficial mail man, delivering mail to many of the residents via his motorized wheelchair. He loved using the computer, emailing many, something that kept him going. He was a bit of the Energizer Bunny too as many times he was very near death, but he kept going and never seemed to let any of it get him down. Levi was a member of the American Legion for over 50 years and the Veterans of Foreign War and the Disabled American Veterans. Preceding him in death were his parents, and a sister, Lorraine Dean on March 26, 2011. Grateful for having shared in his life is a daughter, Marlene (Gary) Randermann, two grandchildren, Kimberly (Randermann) (Joe) Norsworthy and Gary "Matthew" Randermann, and two great-grandchildren, Tyler Scott & Colten James Norsworthy all of Brenham, TX and a sister, Luella Lambert of Aberdeen, SD. Funeral arrangements are announced by the Furness Funeral Home at Clark. There is an on-line registry at www.furnessfuneralhome.com