Floyd James Linn

Memorial services for Floyd James Linn will be held Monday, March 18, 2013 at 12:30 p.m. at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, South Dakota.Floyd James Linn, 88, of Gillette, Wyoming, formerly of Lantry, South Dakota, died at home on March 12, 2013.Floyd was born at home near the community of Bear Creek north of Lantry on October 26, 1924, to Fred and Alice (Main) Linn. In 1929, the family moved to the old log cabin on Bear Creek east of Dupree. He attended Elm Creek country school. He spent his young years helping the family with sheepherding and all that goes with ranch work. He graduated from Dupree High School in 1942. Floyd attended the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology until he joined the Army in November 1944. After basic training, Floyd shipped out of San Francisco bound for the Pacific Rim. He served with the 21st Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. Floyd was assigned to A Company 1st Platoon 1st Squad as a scout. He was sent to Leyte and Mindanao in the Philippines. Later he served in Nippon in occupied Japan. He arrived home in October 1946 a decorated veteran. For the next few years, Floyd worked in the Dupree area as a ranch hand. Floyd married Irene Hebner at her parents' house near Eagle Butte on Dec. 3, 1950. They traveled to Nevada and Arizona looking for work, returning to Dupree in 1951 where daughter Laurie was born. In 1952, Floyd and Irene moved to Lantry where for more than 35 years Floyd was the US postmaster and he and Irene operated Linn Grocery. During that time, daughters Dixie and Annette were born. After retiring in 1990, Floyd and Irene moved to Delta, CO and then to Greybull, WY. Floyd's interests were varied and many, but most involved anything to do with the outdoors. He loved fishing, hunting, rock hunting, gunsmithing, archeology and history. If he wasn't doing something, he was trading stories about it. Floyd is survived by his wife of 62 years, Irene; daughters: Laurie Coleman (Tom) of Bismarck, North Dakota, Dixie Linn-Norberg (Garry) of Gillette, Wyoming and Annette of Centreville, Virginia; five grandchildren: Nicole (Coleman) Vilhauer of Puyallup, Washington, Cody Coleman of Rapid City, South Dakota, Chrystal (Hansen) Lund of Gillette, Wyoming, Megan Jones and Cheyanne Jones both of Casper, Wyoming; four great-grandchildren: Aaron Kuntz and Hunter Vilhauer of Puyallup and Autumn and Maya Lund all of Gillette, Wyoming; brother, Leonard Linn of Sturgis, south Dakota and many nieces and nephews.He was preceded in death by his parents, Fred and Alice (Main) Linn, brother, Ray Linn, and sisters: Elva Straight and Barbara Capp. Memorials and condolences may be sent in Floyd's name in care of Gillette Memorial Chapel, 210 W. 5th Street, Gillette, Wyoming 82716 or condolences via the internet at www.gillettememorialchapel.com.Funeral Home:Gillette Memorial Chapel210 West Fifth Street Gillette, WYUS 82716