Delbert O. Greenlee

1922 - 2013

Delbert O. Greenlee

Delbert O. Greenlee, 91, died August 3, 2013, at Dow Rummel Village in Sioux Falls.

Del was born on February 26, 1922, in Sioux Falls, South Dakota, the son of Mabel (Hawkins) and Orval Greenlee. He graduated from Washington High School in 1941.

In high school, he played quarterback at Washington High for legendary coach Howard Wood. When asked about that time in his life, he would say that in those days a single-wing quarterback was mostly a blocker. That doesn't match up with many newspaper clippings that his mother tucked into a scrapbook. One Argus Leader article stated:

"In an unusual gesture, the veteran coach [Howard Wood] singled out Del Greenlee as a boy who had an especially big part in the success of the 1940 eleven, "because he was put on the spot when placed at quarterback and made himself a good one because of his determination to do so."

After graduation, Del went to college to play football at Iowa State University and study to become a veterinarian. One day, after booming a good punt (Del would say "the wind must have been with me") an assistant coach asked him where he had played high school ball. "Sioux Falls, South Dakota, sir". The coach asked "Who was your coach?" Del's answer was "Coach Howard Wood, sir". When the coach snipped "Never heard of him", Del's instant response was "He probably never heard of you either." His loyalty to Coach Wood was total, and his desire to serve and ability to lead were surely formed in those early years.

The bombing of Pearl Harbor put him on a different track. He joined the Marines and went to Parris Island in 1942. He was selected for Officer Candidate School (OCS) and graduated from Quantico as a 2nd Lieutenant in 1943. After a time at Camp Pendleton, he was sent to Hawaii for over a year to prepare for a secret assault on a Japanese island known only as Island X. We now know this was Iwo Jima. He was assigned to the Fifth Marine Division, D Company, 2nd Battalion, and 28th Regiment. On February 19, 1945, Del landed on "green beach" at Iwo Jima, to command a machine gun platoon in one of the bloodiest battles in the history of the Marines. For his service, Del became a 1st Lieutenant and was awarded a bronze star and purple heart.

After the war, Del married Dorothy Jean Dunn, his sweetheart and lifelong partner. Together they raised a family, and he started a meat packing business with his father, O.C. Greenlee (a long-time cattle buyer for Morrell), and his brother- in-law, Joe Linden. Greenlee Packing Company sold beef and sausage through the fifties and sixties. In 1968, the plant was merged with Spencer Foods of Spencer, IA. During the seventies, Del and Dorothy lived on West Lake Okoboji and Del worked at Spencer Foods as the head cattle buyer, procuring over 20,000 cattle per week for 3 plants. During the eighties, Del and Dorothy retired and spent winters in Sun City, AZ, and summers on Mitchell Lake near Hill City, SD, where Del got to teach some of his grandchildren to fish for trout. Del was a crack shot and an avid hunter, especially with "Bullrush Butch", his beloved Black Labrador Retriever. Everybody knew that if you hunted with Del and Butch, there would be meat on the table.

In the early sixties, Del was instrumental in starting the first Fellowship of Christian Athletes (FCA) "huddle group" in Sioux Falls. FCA is now statewide and is changing the lives of many athletes and coaches. At First Baptist Church, Del served as a trustee, taught Sunday school, and helped to create the "Firehouse ministry" in the sixties. In Sun City, Del served as an usher for many years at Bellevue Heights Baptist Church.

Del served as a Scoutmaster and worked with Cub Scout Pack 23, Boy Scout Troop 23, and Explorer Post 23, at First Baptist Church. He took his Scouts (and his family) on several Canadian wilderness canoe trips in the Quetico. He was a Vigil member of the honorary Order of the Arrow and he received the Silver Beaver Award, one of the highest awards presented to a volunteer Scouter. Del was a Shriner while in Sioux Falls and while in Sun City was awarded the Melvin Jones Fellowship from the Lions Club International Foundation.

Del's passing was preceded by his wife Dorothy, his parents, sister Pauline Linden, and grandson Nathan Greenlee. He is survived by his sister Sherrill King, children Jeff Greenlee of Phoenix, AZ; Dave Greenlee (Sue) of Garretson SD; Mike Greenlee (Genice) of Colton SD; and Laura Greenlee of Asheville NC; 9 grandchildren, and 9 great-grandchildren. After Dorothy passed away in 2012, Del moved back to Sioux Falls to be closer to friends and family. He also made new friends at Dow Rummel Village.

Services will be held at First Baptist Church in Sioux Falls on Tuesday, August 13, 2013 at 11am. On Friday, August 16, 2013, at 10am, Del will receive full military honors and be buried next to Dorothy at Veterans National Cemetery in Phoenix, AZ. The family requests memorials to be directed to The Fellowship of Christian Athletes. Miller Funeral home is in charge of funeral arrangements.