Alan Van Kley, age 77 of Spearfish, died Wednesday, May 22, 2024 at the Fort Meade VA Medical Center in Sturgis.
Graveside services will be held 1:30pm Wednesday, May 29, 2024 at Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis. Â There will be no visitation. Â Military Honors will be provided by the Belle Fourche Veterans Honor Guard. Â Arrangements are with Leverington Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche. Â Friends may leave written condolences online at: www.LeveringtonFH.com
Alan Kent Van Kley was born August 16, 1946 in Pasadena, California. Â At an early age he moved with his family to Pender, Nebraska where he grew up and attended school. Â He graduated from high school in 1964, and earned his Business Administration degree from Wayne State University at Wayne, Nebraska. Â During the Vietnam War, Alan served in the U.S. Army from May of 1968 until November of 1969. Â He was united in marriage to Debbie McClure on December 21, 1969 at the United Methodist Church in Belle Fourche. Â To this union was born two daughters: Jade in 1971 and Teri in 1975. Â Following their marriage, Alan finished up his college and then began working as a News Reporter for Market News. Â This took him to Des Moines Iowa, Kansas City, and Los Angeles. Â In 1984 the family moved to Belle Fourche, at the McClure family ranch, where Alan learned to be a four wheeler cowboy. Â In 2006, Alan and Debbie retired to Spearfish, where they have lived since.
Alan enjoyed golf, and he was an avid fan of the Kansas City Chiefs and the Nebraska Cornhuskers. Â He was blessed with 54 years of marriage, and he will be greatly missed by his family and friends.
Alan is survived by his wife, Debbie of Spearfish; daughters, Jade (William) Linseman of Rapid City, Teri Van Kley of Spearfish; 2 grandsons, Alexander and Jacob; step-granddaughter, Jennifer; 4 great grandchildren; 2 great great grandchildren; and very close friends, Merlin Porterfield, Don McCrabb, and the Feddersen family . Â He was preceded in death by his parents, Arie and Verna Van Kley.