Luther, Richard M. – 1926-2010

BIES, LUTHER, ORR, PERRY, SWISHER

Posted By: JCGS Volunteer
Date: 9/27/2010 at 13:31:00

Richard M. Luther, 84, died Sunday, Sept. 19, 2010, at Brookview Manor in Brookings, S.D.
A funeral service will be at 10:30 a.m. Thursday, Sept. 23, 2010, at Ascension Lutheran Church in Brookings, S.D., with interment and military rites in Greenwood Cemetery. Visitations will be from 6 to 8 p.m. Wednesday at Eidsness Funeral Home in Brookings, S.D., with a public Masonic service at 8 p.m.
Source: Newton Daily News; Monday, September 20, 2010

Additional information from Eidsness Funeral Home website:
Richard Marion Luther was born May 7, 1926, on his grandfather’s homestead farm south of Baxter, Iowa, to Richard E. and Arnetta G. (Orr) Luther. He attended Independence No. 6 country school, and graduated from Newton High School. He served in the U.S. Air Force from June 1945 until December 1946. He received his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from SDSU and his Ph.D. from Iowa State University.
Richard worked as a wool handler for the Iowa Sheep and Wool Grower’s Association and then became the Shepherd at SDSU. His work at SDSU involved teaching and research in the Animal Science department. After 32 years of service he retired as Professor of Animal Science in 1987, and was named Professor Emeritus.
Richard had a wide variety of interests including gardening, photography, genealogy, antiques, and collecting carpentry and blacksmithing tools. He was a member of the American Legion, Ascension Lutheran Church and Rotary International for over 43 years. He served as president of the Brookings and South Dakota Genealogical Society.
Richard was a dedicated member of Masonic organizations for over 60 years. He joined the Masonic lodge in Newton, Iowa, in 1947, served as Master of Brookings Lodge No. 24 in 1969 and as Grand Master of Masons in South Dakota in 1995. He took leadership roles in the York Rite bodies in South Dakota, and many other Masonic organizations including the South Dakota Lodge of Masonic Research, the Midwest Conference on Masonic Education, Philatheles Society, Knights of the York Cross of Honor, York Rite College, Red Cross of Constantine, Scottish Rite, the Order of the Eastern Star, Job’s Daughters, and Shriners.
Survivors include three children: Linda (Charles) Bies of Andover, Minnesota, Carol (David) Swisher of Brookings, and Eric (Karla) Luther of Marshall, Minnesota; and seven grandchildren: Philip Bies, Tyler Bies, Nicholas Swisher, James Swisher, Austin Luther, Jackson Luther, and Regan Luther. He was preceded in death by two infant brothers and a sister, Mary Perry.