Funeral services for Graylen Mittleider, age 52, of McLaughlin will be at 10:30 AM, MT, Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at Redeemer Lutheran Church in McLaughlin. Burial will be in the McLaughlin City Cemetery under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home of Mobridge. Visitation will start at 6 PM MT Monday with a prayer service at 7 PM at the church. Graylen passed away Thursday, May 12, 2011 at his home in McLaughlin.

Graylen Deon Mittleider was born on November 7, 1958 in Fargo, ND to Ralph and Sharon (Wolf) Mittleider. He spent his early years in McLaughlin, SD; he started to earn his wages by shoe shining in his dad's Barber Shop. His teen years he spent working on farms in the community, and taking care of race horses. In 1981 he joined the Army. He was Honorably Discharged in 1984. He moved back to McLaughlin where he met his wife, Lucille (Hoon). They moved to Gillette, WY for several years where he worked for Kissack's Water and Oil. They then moved to Rapid City, SD where he worked on the Air Force Base, and went to college for several years. From there was the move to Tacoma, WA, where he worked at a telephone company. In 1991 then they moved back to McLaughlin, where he found a job he loved, being a police officer. He loved helping people. He then later worked for Nortel in 1996, for 5 years, which took him on the road. He started policing again and working at Cenex in McLaughlin, doing what he loved helping people. His last months of his life he started working at Prairie Knights Casino. He loved to watch history and war movies and hold his children while they fell asleep in his arms along with his two favorite cats Bonnie and Clyde, and he also would fall asleep soon after. He loved to go camping in the summer months and hunting in the winter months with his family and friends. His days off he spent with his children and their friends teaching them how to drive, and ride the ATV, hunting prairie dogs, shooting clays, and being safe and responsible. He taught them to be respectful and use manners to all people. He was a big teddy bear with a big heart full of love to share with everyone. The children went to mom to fix broken things, and they went to him to be in a big bear hug and take the hurt away. Even though it was a torturing whisker rub, horse bite or a wet willy he would cheer us up.

He leaves behind his wife, Lucille (Hoon), daughters, Yorishia, Jerrica, Morijah, Azaria, and Irian. His sons, Rilend, Riverson, and Riordan, his first granddaughter, Saveah and an honorary son, Loudyn White Bull, father, Ralph Mittleider, mother, Sharon (Lee) Meyer, sister, Romelle (Richard) Hoon, brother, Devon (Shelly) Mittleider, grandmother, Alice Murphy and aunts, Rebecca, Ray (Alma) Mittleider and Sandra (Bob) Waliser, and many brothers and sisters-in-law, and a whole lot of nieces and nephews.

He is preceded in death by his grandfathers, John Mittleider, Emil Wolf and Bernie Murphy, grandmother, Florence Mittleider and uncles, Bruce Wolf and Roy Mittleider.

CLERGY: Pastor Dennis Fonkert

PIANIST: DeVonne Schuh

SOLOIST:
Keith Gall "In The Garden"

CONGREGATIONAL HYMNS:
"Thy Holy Wings" ~ "Amazing Grace" ~ "On Eagle's Wings"

CASKETBEARERS:
Paul Archambault ~ Dave Schneider ~ Loudyn White Bull
Steve Mittleider ~ Tyrel Hoon ~ Joseph Hoon
Matthew Hoon ~ Michael Hoon

HONORARY CASKETBEARERS:
All Graylen's Family, Friends, Co-workers &
all Law Enforcement Officers

USHERS:
Preston Loeb ~ Ryan Loeb ~ Dalton Loeb ~ Richard Hoon Jr.

MILITARY HONORS:
American Legion Post #121