Iver 0. Tufty 1916 - 1988

TUFTY GAGE

Posted By: Connie Swearingen-Volunteer (email)
Date: 4/27/2014 at 21:41:53

Sioux City Journal
28 July 1988

Iver 0. Tufty, 72, 4101 Country Club Blvd., owner of Motor Parts Central in Sioux City, died of an apparent heart attack Tuesday, July 26, 1988, in Custer, S.D.

Services will be at 1 p.m. Friday at the Trinity Lutheran Church with the Rev. Frederick Lubs officiating. Burial will be in the Memorial Park Cemetery. Graveside military rites will be conducted by the Sioux Falls and Sioux City Air National Guard.

Visitation will be from 4 to 8 p.m. today at the Nelson-Berger Northside Chapel, with the family present from 7 to 8 p.m.

Mr. Tufty was born May 25, 1916, at Nunda, S.D. He attended high school in Fairfield, Iowa, and also attended Parsons College and the University of Colorado.

He married Lorraine Gage of Sioux Falls, S.D., Nov. 15, 1941.

Mr. Tufty entered military service as an aviation cadet in February 1941 and was commissioned a second lieutenant and rated as a pilot Feb. 27, 1941. He flew combat missions as a bomber pilot. After discharge from active duty in 1946, he returned to Sioux Falls and was active in establishing the South Dakota Air Guard, of which he was a charter member.

He served in various command positions in the Guard and was called to active duty during the Korean Conflict. He remained active with the Guard until he retired in 1971 at the rank of brigadier general.

Mr. Tufty was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross; Distinguished Service Cross; Purple Heart; Air Medal; Victory Medal; American Campaign Medal; European, African, Middle East Medal with five battle stars; Air Force Longevity Service Award; and the Air Force Reserve Medal with hourglass.

He was a past member of the Masonic Lodge and of the El Riad Shrine Temple. He was a member of state and federal National Guard associations and was a former member of the Elks Club. He was a past president of the Sioux City Country Club and was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church.

Mr. Tufty had been owner of Motor Parts Central since 1951. He was a Dodge dealer in Sioux City from 1957-1960, was vice president of the Valley State Bank from 1960-1965, was vice president and treasurer of the Sioux City 'I' Club from 1960-1965, was president of the Sioux City Auto Dealers Association from 1959-1965; and was an associate organizer of Life Investors of Iowa Insurance Company in Cedar Rapids in 1959.

He is survived by his wife; a daughter, Carolyn Rossie of Lake St. Lewis, Mo.; two sons, Clifford of Sioux City and Craig of Washington, D.C.; a sister, Thelma Serr of Sioux Falls and four grandchildren.

Memorials have been established for the American Heart Association and Trinity Lutheran Church.