Memorial services for Arlen Aaker, age 76, of Bison, SD, will be held at 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, August 13, 2020 at the Prince of Peace Chapel of the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon, SD.  A Celebration of Life will follow and will be held at 5:30 p.m. at the American Legion in Bison, SD.  The memorial service is limited to immediate family and will be live streamed through Arlen's obituary on our website at www.evansonjensenfuneralhome.com .

Burial with military honors will be held at 12:00 p.m. noon on Friday, August 14, 2020 at the Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, SD.  Burial is limited to immediate family only.

Arlen Roy Aaker loving son, brother and father was born on September 11, 1943 to Adolph and Ann Aaker.  He died August 5, 2020 in Yankton, SD.  He grew up on the family farm just west of Bison and graduated from Bison High School in 1961.  After high school he attended Southern State Teachers College in Springfield, SD and earned a two-year auto mechanics degree.

Arlen returned to Bison and worked for Penor's Texaco until 1965 when h was drafted for the Vietnam War.  He served in the United States Army as a light equipment mechanic.  He served for one year and one day in Vietnam and then served his remaining time at Fort Polk, LA, as a wrecker operator.  Arlen was a member of the American Legion Post #255 for 55 years and enjoyed serving in the local Color Guard.  He was very proud of his service to his country.

After his service he returned to Bison and continued working for Penor's Texaco until 1978 when he went to work for the South Dakota Highway Department and worked his way up to superintendent.  He then finished his career working for the city of Bison.  After retirement, many side jobs kept him busy as he could run and work on many types of heavy equipment.

He was united in marriage to Helen Green on August 29, 1970 and had three sons.  Arlen spent many hours with his boys while they were growing up, traveling to all the football and basketball games throughout their school years.  Even in his later years he enjoyed watching Dan and Larry's teams play, traveling to see most of the games.

Arlen was an avid golfer and enjoyed playing with friends and family on the course that his dad, Adolph, build on their alfalfa fields.  He also enjoyed hunting every fall with his sons and grandson and friends from the neighboring states.

Arlen is survived by his sons, Stacy (Susan) of Andover, MN, Dan (Mona), Winner, SD and Larry of Winner, SD; grandson, Cole Aaker of Andover, MN.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Adolph and Ann Aaker, sister, Cleo Wood and brother-in-law, Norman Wood.

Rest in peace, dear father.