Durand C. Young

Durand C. Young, 86, of Bella Vista, Ark., passed away on Friday, June 28, 2013, at the Circle of Life–Legacy Village, Bentonville, Ark. He was born Dec. 20, 1926, in Ft. Pierre, S.D., to Lloyd and Thelma Young. After graduation from Ft. Pierre High School in 1944, he entered the U.S. Navy V12 program at Carroll College in Helena, Mont., for Navy training and college studies. When W.W. II ended, he transferred to the University of Washington and there finished his second year of college, remained full-time Navy and in 1946, joined the Reserves. Durand then entered and graduated from Augustana College in Sioux Falls, S.D., in 1948, with degrees in English and music. His working career began as sports editor for the Daily Plainsman in Huron, S.D. He moved on to become executive director of the Greater Sioux Falls, S.D., Safety Council. The Korean War called him back into service. Upon his discharge from active duty in 1953, he remained in the Navy Reserve, and later retired as a Lieutenant Commander. For a time, he was again with the Safety Council. Many community projects also filled his days. Shortly, the South Dakota Auto Club, AAA of South Dakota beckoned, where he became V.P. in public relations, editor of Home & Away magazine and manager of the travel department. His life interests were history, music, writing, the Navy and tennis. Durand was inducted into the South Dakota Hall of Fame in 2000. Upon retiring in 1992, Durand and Ann moved to Bella Vista, where he became part of the community by writing a tennis column for the Vista and newsletters for the Bella Vista Historical Society. They became members of the Bella Vista Community Church, where he sang in the church choir. He is survived by his wife, Ann; sister, Leila Pfeiffer of Rapid City, S.D.; two daughters, from a previous marriage, Deborah Lovro and Karen Lovro, both of Sioux Falls, S.D.; grandsons, Brett and Eric; and great-grandchildren. A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, July 15, 2013, at the Bella Vista Community Church, 75 E. Lancashire Blvd., Bella Vista, Ark. Arrangements are by the Bella Vista Funeral Home & Crematory, 2258 Forest Hills Blvd., Bella Vista, Ark. On-line condolences may be made at www.funeralmation.com.