Michael L. Matheny, 72, of Dell Rapids passed away on Saturday, February 14, 2009 at the Dougherty Hospice House in Sioux Falls. Mass of Christian Burial will begin at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, February 18, 2009 at St. Mary Catholic Church in Dell Rapids. Interment with military rites will be in the St. Mary Cemetery. Visitation will begin at noon on Tuesday, February 17, 2009 with a Christian Wake Service beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Kahler Funeral Home.

Michael L. Matheny was born in Elkins, West Virginia on October 19, 1936. He attended Graham High School and graduated in June, 1954. He enlisted in the USAF in June of 1959. Following the completion of basic military training, Sgt. Matheny attended the Air Craft Maintenance School at Chanute Air Force Base, Illinois. After graduating he was assigned to the 28th Field Maintenance Squadron, Ellsworth Air Force Base, South Dakota.

On November 7, 1964 Michael was united in marriage to Laurietta M. Fey. To this union three children were born; Gregory, June and Angela. During his 26 year career with USAF, Michael and family had various duty stations. Included in those stations was Guam, Indiana, South Dakota, and a temporary assignment to U - Tapao, Thailand at Saudi-Heap Air Field during the Vietnam conflict. After returning to the states he continued his assignments in Michigan, Arkansas, his final duty station was Grand Forks Air Force Base where he retired from military service in 1985. During his 26 years of military service he successfully completed every level of promotion for a non commissioned officer retiring at the rank of Chief Master Sargent.

Life after the Air Force included an opportunity to go to LA, California where he was employed by Rockwell International as a project manager for the B-1 Bomber Program. He returned to Ellsworth with Rockwell and then retired in 1990. With an empty nest, Mike and Laurietta moved to Dell Rapids, SD and bought a home where he resided until his death.

Mike is preceded in death by his parents and one niece.

Those left to cherish his memory are his wife of 44 years, Laurietta Matheny; his son, Gregory (Ann) Matheny of Brookings; his daughters, June Lukehart (Wade Rasmussen) of Sioux Falls and Angela (Patrick) Ellison of Dell Rapids; his five grandchildren, Amber, Hutten, Griffin, Haley and Brenden; his brother, Harry Jr. (Agnes) Matheny of Sterling, VA and many nieces, nephews and extended family.

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