Darrell Edward Lyon, 93, longtime Perkins County rancher, passed from this life at the Rapid City Regional Hospital in Rapid City, SD on June 28, 2005.

Darrell was born in Armour, South Dakota on May 15, 1912 to Newton Rex and Clara (Becker) Lyon. The family moved to their Perkins County ranch when Darrell was three years of age and he attended Pleasant Valley Elementary School near Coal Springs. Darrell was enrolled for two years at Grand Central High School near Meadow and graduated from Bison High School in 1932. Darrell worked on the family ranch after graduation and married Dorothy Murphy on December 31, 1935. To this union in 1937, they were blessed with a son, Eugene. Darrell and Dorothy worked on the ranch with his parents until Rex's death in 1942, when Darrell assumed the operation. Darrell started raising registered Herefords after being given his first heifer by a neighbor. He continued to raise Hereford bulls and sheep for many years. Through the years Darrell has added on and remodeled their ranch house to their growing needs. Darrell and Dorothy have remained on the ranch for the duration of their marriage.
Darrell enjoyed working on the ranch with his family. He donated many years of leadership to numerous 4-H clubs, the Pleasant Valley School Board, the Perkins County Fair Board, and was inducted into the South Dakota 4-H Hall of Fame. Coal Springs Antique Club and Show was started by Darrell and has been held on his ranch since 1999. Rancher's Camp has existed on the picnic grounds of the Lyon ranch for many years. Darrell's hobbies included working on his Model T car, radios, Ford and Oliver tractors, and his Jacob's wind charger, still in operation, which powered one of the first homes in the area- Darrell and Dorothy's home. Darrell was a member of the Meadow Presbyterian Church and helped to construct the church in the mid 1950's.

Darrell is survived by his wife Dorothy, son Eugene and wife Bonita (Oliver) of Rapid City, SD, four grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, and three great, great-grandchildren, one niece, and two nephews.

Darrell was preceded in death by his parents, a daughter-in-law, Carla Mae, sister Ardath Parker, brother-in-law George Parker, mother-in-law Selma Murphy, father-in-law Richard Murphy, brother-in-law Richard Murphy Jr., and sister-in-law Mildred Green.

Funeral services will be held at 11am on Tuesday, July 5, 2005 at the Bison Presbyterian Church with Pastors Harold Delbridge and Florence Hoff officiating. Interment will be at the Greenhill Cemetery in Lemmon. A family service will be held at 5pm on Monday, July 4, 2005 at the Evanson Jensen Funeral Home in Lemmon.


Serving as casket bearers are David & Debbie Lyon; Cherrie & John Dyck; Ron and Kristi Lyon; Don and Ann Lyon. Honorary casket bearers are Stephanie, Tiffany, and Robin Dyck, Rex, Klara, Cade, and Carter Lyon, John and Jennifer Dobbs, and all friends and neighbors.

A memorial has been established.