Leslie "Les" Labahn, 75, passed away at his home in Pickstown on March 18, 2016. Les loved deeply, and was deeply loved by his friends and family.
Les was born on September 26, 1940, in Akron, Iowa to Dorothy (Ragan) and Jack (Virgil) Labahn. Les was the oldest of four children, and grew up on a farm on Ponca Creek near Burke.
He graduated from Burke High School before attending South Dakota State University. He received a degree in Agronomy from SDSU in 1962, and remained a lifelong Jackrabbits fan. After college, Les went to work for the USDA Soil Conservation Service until January 1963, when he reported to US Naval Officer Candidate School in Newport, Rhode Island.
After Officer Candidate School, Les served aboard the USS Waldo County, Landing Ship Tank (LST) 1163. His home port was the Little Creek Amphibious Base, near Norfolk, Virginia. He rose to serve as the Operations Officer of the ship, responsible for how well the ship performed its mission. He loved his service in the Navy, serving in the Mediterranean Sea, where he visited Spain, Italy, Sicily, Sardinia, and Greece. Les completed his Active Duty obligation in May 1966, and was honorably discharged. He returned to his civilian life in the USDA Soil Conservation Service, but remained in the Naval Reserve, rising to the rank of Lieutenant Commander.
Les married Constance ("Connie") Schmitz of Bonesteel on November 5, 1966, and they raised three children in Chamberlain, Timber Lake, and then Brandon.
Les moved to Pickstown in 1993, and retired from the Soil Conservation Service at the end of 2005. After retirement, he remained active in the Randall RC&D (Resource Conservation & Development). He was passionate about preserving and improving land, water, and all of nature.
Les loved his family, and took joy in being with them. He traveled around the country for his grandchildren's sporting events, birthdays, school programs, and concerts. He never missed a chance to drive for hours to stand on a rain soaked soccer pitch, snow covered football field, or crowded gym; and, he loved every moment of it. He gladly endured heat and cold to teach his grandsons how to hunt. He loved traveling the country to visit his aunts, uncles, and cousins, or visit museums or historical sites. He fulfilled a "bucket list" goal by driving to Alaska and touring the wilderness. He was a quiet man who filled a room with easy laughter. He was a simple man who was fascinated by almost everything. He was an old-fashioned man who, in this day of emojis and short texts, still wrote multipage letters. He is dearly missed.
Left to mourn are his wife Connie, his daughter Stephanie Hurd (Jeff) of Rapid City, his son Steven Labahn (Debora) of Sioux Falls, his son Michael Labahn (Melissa) of Brandon, one brother-Claude Labahn of Burke, one sister-Jackie Labahn of Burke, and his nine grandchildren—Emily, Andrew, Michael, and Vivian Hurd; Paige, Lauren, and Austin Labahn; and Madelyn and Maria Labahn. He was preceded in death by his parents, and his brother Terry Labahn.
Les left so many friends and relatives who were dear to him. The family wants to specifically acknowledge the "Knights of the Round Table" who met for breakfast at Abby's in Pickstown. Their conversations were the subject of many letters and conversations with family!
Funeral services will be at Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Burke on Thursday, March 24th at 10:30 a.m. The burial will follow at the Graceland Cemetery in Burke.
Les was active in the VFW, and the family requests that, in lieu of flowers, please send donations to the Burke VFW in the name of Les Labahn.
Friends may sign his online guest register at http://clausenfuneralhome.com/.

Memorial services will be held on Thursday, March 24, 2016 at 10:30 AM at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Burke.