Alvin Lee Morehouse, age 89

Alvin Lee Morehouse

Alvin Lee Morehouse, age 89, passed away Wednesday,  Jan. 17, 2018, at Morningstar Assisted Living Center in Rapid City.
 
Alvin was born in Rapid City on July 4, 1928, to Virgil and Angie (Young) Morehouse. 
When he was seven years old he met a boy named Jim Lowell who became his best friend for life. Alvin lived with his sister, Irma, and her husband, Vernie, from his teen years until his marriage in 1970. Vernie was an excellent mechanic. Alvin would follow him around at home and at work and learn, and learn he did, and Alvin became an excellent mechanic as well. Irma and Vernie’s son, Johnny, Alvin’s nephew, had many good times. Alvin, Johnny and Jerry, another nephew of Alvin’s, had lots of fun together and maybe got into a little trouble as well.
 
Alvin learned to work at a young age. Before his teen years he worked at a bicycle shop, delivered mail and parts on base with a three-wheeled bike during the World War Two era, was a tire man at Buckingham’s and worked on a farm at Interior for three years before Uncle Sam called him to duty. He spent two years in the U.S. Army on the front lines during the Korean War. Prior to his discharge, he fixed a Jeep for a commanding officer who saw what a great mechanic he was and begged him to reenlist but Alvin knew he was lucky to come out of the front lines alive and politely declined. He was honorably discharged in 1953.
Upon his return from the war, Alvin got a job at the South Dakota Cement Plant where he worked for 37 years before retiring in 1990. He spent many years building engines for Jim Lowell’s race car, #12, before giving it up to build a house for his new family. He gracefully and lovingly became an instant husband and dad at age 40 and then was brave enough to have a child of his own.
 
Alvin was a designated driver before there was such a thing. He would tell his friends that were drinking and driving, “You either let me out or let me drive!” And soon he didn’t even have to say anything, they would just hand him the keys. 
 
Alvin was a loving and giving man. He was always helping someone with something, whether it be rebuilding an engine, working on a car, fixing a tire or fixing something. He was a genius and an inventor. He carried a motto from childhood throughout his life – “If someone says it can’t be done, I will find a way to do it.” And do it he did.
 
Alvin is survived by his wife, Janice Morehouse, Rapid City; four children, Janice (Scott) Zandstra and Cindy Shick, all of Rapid City, Daniel Anderson, Sioux Falls, and Angela Morehouse (Steven) Brown, Chicago, Ill.; nine grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Ricky Anderson; brother, Lloyd Morehouse; and six sisters, Martha Behrendt, Norma Hurd, Violet Grove, Irma Slocum, Dorothy Morgan, and Donna Gossard.
 
Visitation is at Kirk Funeral Home from 5:00-7:00 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 25, and at the church one hour before services.
 
Funeral services are set for 10:00 a.m. Friday, Jan. 26, at Open Bible Christian Center, with the Rev. Charles R. Loftis officiating. A reception and luncheon will then take place at the church. 
 
Interment with honors will follow at 1:00 p.m. at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.
 
A memorial has been established to Open Bible Christian Center and Morningstar Assisted Living Center. 
 
Friends may sign Alvin’s online guestbook at www.kirkfuneralhome.com

The Pioneer Review

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Philip, SD 57567
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