Veldon Loyal Orr, 92, of Rapid City, SD, passed away peacefully on Friday, May 5, 2023, at Ft. Meade VA Medical Center.
Vel was born December 10, 1930, in Moskee, WY, to Leo and Margery Orr, the oldest of six siblings. The family lived in Terraville, SD, and Kellogg, ID, before returning to Lead, SD, upon the death of Leo in a hunting accident when Vel was only 14. Vel graduated from Lead High School in 1948, and then served in the U.S. Marine Corp twice – both before and during the Korean War. Returning to Rapid City, Vel attended the SD School of Mines & Technology. He met his future wife Janet in 1957 at the Policeman’s Ball and they were married in 1960. Vel and Janet raised two daughters, Cheryl, and Robin.
Vel’s motto was to love life and work hard. Janet was his great love and the two of them could be found holding hands, dancing, traveling and working alongside each other. Vel held his family above all else. Many memories and lots of love were shared with his daughters, sons-in-law, grandchildren, siblings, and extended family members.
Vel embraced change and enjoyed a new challenge which led to a varied career including in dispatch, law enforcement, sales, restaurant ownership (including A&W Drive-In and Daisy Dell Restaurant), development for Church Response and Cornerstone Rescue Mission, and in later years, Bear Country. He published a novel “Bear!” at the age of 82.
Vel is survived by his wife of 62 years, Janet Orr; daughters: Cheryl Orr (Paul Walton), and Robin Albers (Justin); grandchildren: Lauren Albers, Courtney DeJong (Dillon), and Logan Albers; great grandchildren: Aila and Marley; three brothers: Dean Orr (Mary), Doyle Jay Orr, and Larry Orr (Kathleen); and sister-in-law, Lupe Orr.
Preceded in death by his parents, sister, Dee Ora Lee Keller, and brother, Duane Orr.
A service to remember and celebrate Vel’s life will be at Westminster Presbyterian Church in Rapid City on Friday, May 12, 2023, at 11:00 a.m.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the Margery L. Orr Scholarship Fund at mloscholarship.org.
Our family would like to thank Fort Meade VA Medical Center for their loving and compassionate care in Vel’s final months.
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Condolences may be sent to the family at www.kinkadefunerals.com.
