Lorne D. Veen, age 82, of Gary, SD passed away Sunday, March 20, 2022, at the Sanford Canby Medical Center. Memorial service will be 11:00 a.m. Saturday, April 2, 2022, at the Gary United Methodist Church in Gary, SD with visitation one hour prior to the service. Burial with military honors will be in the Grandview Cemetery in Gary.
Lorne Dale Veen was born December 4, 1939, at home in Little Rock, Iowa to parents Harvey and Ann (Lursen) Veen. Lorne attended school in Minnesota and South Dakota. During Lorne’s senior year in Gary, South Dakota, he was the Homecoming King and broke the school record in the mile run. Lorne started college at South Dakota State University but ran out of money. He then joined the United States Air Force in 1960 and was sent to Syracuse University to learn the Russian Language. While in school, he was in a car accident and had 213 stitches in his face. Lorne served two years in Japan and was discharged in 1963. He worked as a carpenter and on road construction until his marriage to Elonne Cole on November 22, 1965, at the Gary United Methodist Church. To this union was born a son Chad Dale Veen. Lorne moved to Maryland to work for the National Security Agency as an analyst. During his time, he also attended the University of Maryland part-time, receiving his Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Management in 1975. While working for the Government, he served in Thailand, Germany, England, and Rosman Research Station, N.C. Lorne retired from the government after 28 years and moved back to Gary. Lorne enjoyed fishing and hunting and shot his last deer on his 70th birthday. He enjoyed watching the Minnesota Vikings and Twins. Lorne especially enjoyed his morning coffee with the guys at the Alibi.
He leaves to mourn his wife Elonne of 56 years, son Chad and daughter-in-law Michelle; granddaughter Rachel; brothers Harlan (Diane) Veen and Gary Veen; sisters: Marjorie Heiser, Linda Bakke, Judy (Tom Carnahan) and many nieces and nephews. Lorne was preceded in death by his parents Harvey and Ann Veen, brothers: Richard and Daryl Veen; niece Raquel Tirrel, sister-in-law Wendy Veen; brothers-in-law, Don Heiser and Dennis Bakke.
