James Alvin Perlenfein was born December 21, 1923 to John and Lydia (Zimbelman) Perlenfein in Butte, Nebraska and died June 15, 2011 at the Lake Andes Health Care Center in Lake Andes, South Dakota at the age of 87 years.

James was united in marriage to Lillie Velma Hoppe on July 12, 1949 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Fairfax, SD. To this union four children were born: David, Gail, Larry and Anita.

Jim enlisted in the Navy in 1945 and was honorably discharged later that year. He spent the next few years working on the Ft. Randall Dam along with various other construction jobs. In 1959 Jim and Lillie returned to Bonesteel to take over the family farm. In 1982 they retired from farming and opened Hungry Jims, grocery/convenience store. In 1986 they sold the business and Jim worked for Divine Concrete until his official retirement at the age of 75 years.

Jim was a member of the American Legion Post #36 of Bonesteel and also a member of Trinity Lutheran Church for which he was an elder and an usher for many years.

He is survived by his wife Lillie of 61 years, sons, David (Carol), Larry (Kelly), daughters Gail (Mike) Engen, Anita (Kelly) Jorgensen, grandchildren: Amy Koenig, Scott Perlenfein, Eric Larson, Angela Larson, Tyler Perlenfein, Alicia Bond, Haley Jorgensen, Hannah Jorgensen, step-grandchildren: Elliot, Jordan, Olivia and Ian Engen, Shawna Bartow and Tiffany Sylvester, 13 great-grandchildren 4 step-great-grandchildren, and a sister, Esther Wuest of Butte, NE.

Jim was preceded in death by his parents and a brother-in-law George Wuest.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, June 18, 2011 at 10:30 AM at the Trinity Lutheran Church in Fairfax. Burial will be in the Trinity Lutheran Cemetery, Fairfax. Visitation will be Friday beginning at 6:00 PM, with a 7:00 PM prayer service, at the church in Fairfax.