Donald A. L'Esperance

RAPID CITY - Donald A. L'Esperance, 89, passed away on Dec. 6, 2008. He most recently had been living at Clarkson Mt. View Nursing Facility. Don was the son of Joseph and Katherine L'Esperance. He married Eileen Forrette on Nov. 27, 1941. They had five children. Upon graduation in 1938 from RC High School and after attending college in Rapid City, Don was bookkeeper for Independent Bindery from 1940-1941; office manager for Kenosha Transport from 1941-1942; administrative assistant to the US Corp of Engineers from 1942-1944; founder/director of Pennco Investments from 1954-1963; and from which Don was best known, office manager and later owner/partner of Mellgren Plumbing from 1949-1986. Don loved woodworking and working on his antique cars, including membership in the Historical Auto Club of the BH. Don served on a multitude of building/contracting boards, nonprofit associations and other groups/service clubs, including the SD Association of HVAC Contractors, the YMCA, President of the Chamber of Commerce and Chairman of the Elks Lodge 1187 Board of Trustees (and a 65-year member of the Elks). Don was very proud to have served on the Rapid City Council from 1953-1956, during which time he also served as the second youngest Mayor and served in the SD House of Representatives from 1957-1962. Don was very active in the Republican Party at both the local and state levels and dearly loved both his community and his state. Don received the Jaycees local and state Distinguished Service Award and the local and district Sertoma Service to Mankind Award. One of Don's most personally fulfilling, proudest and cherished achievements was serving on the study committee to merge St. John's and Bennett-Clarkson hospitals and upon completion of the merger into Rapid City Regional Hospital, serving on the Board of Directors from 1973-1978, including Chairman from 1974-1977. Don was preceded in death by Eileen, his wife of 62 years, and one grandson. Don is survived by his five children, David (Delsie) of Rapid City, Judi Pzinski (Stan) of Four Corners, WY, Keith (Enola) of Rapid City, Mary Anne Waba (Don) of Gillette, WY and Jim (Shirley) of Rapid City; two sisters, DeDe Binder of Rapid City and Audrey Nichols of Atlanta, GA; 11 grandchildren, 17 great-grandchildren; and many nieces and nephews. Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 10, at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home. Services will be at 10 a.m. on Thursday, Dec. 11, at the First Wesleyan Church, 202 E. St. Francis, with the Rev. Steve Selfridge and the Rev. Mike Schultz officiating. Burial will follow at Mt. View Cemetery. A memorial has been established in Don's name to the Rapid City Regional Hospital Foundation. Friends may sign his online guestbook at www.osheim schmidt.com.