Donald B. Tyson

Donald B. Tyson was on of those energetic individuals who managed to pack several lifetimes of work and adventure into 94 years.  He died February 2, 2011 at Rapid City Regional Hospital.

 Don's life journey was professionally grounded in aviation and embellished by passions for trout fishing and amateur radio.  At the time of his death, Don held a Ham operator's certificate longer than just about any of his peers in the United States, acquiring his license as a young man in Chicago.  He also was a private pilot.

 Don was born on September 27, 1916 in Sedalia, Missouri. He married Marion Kirsch in 1940  and had celebrated their 63rd anniversary when Marion passed away in March 2004.

 During World War II Don worked for Consolidated Aircraft in San Diego as a radio operator helping to air test newly manufactured bombers as they came off the assembly line; and later he moved to Lima, Peru to fly for Pan American-Grace Airways, the predecessor of Pan American World Airways.  His years with Pan American-Grace Airways were some of Don's most adventurous operating radio equipment aboard DC-3's as they ferried passengers to and from isolated communities in the rugged Andes mountains.  After a brief stint in California, Don and his family moved to Hawaii in the early '50's where he accepted a position with the CAA, which later became the FAA.  He served most of his nearly two decades with the agency in Hawaii as a flight navigator, flying throughout the Pacific region serving FAA outposts. He retrained as a flight inspector and moved to Ann Arbor, Michigan and finally to Rapid city where he retired from the FAA.

 Don is survived by a daughter, Roberta Ferguson of Cape Canaveral, Florida; a son, Ray Tyson and wife, Cheryl of Rapid City. 

 Memorial services were held Saturday, February 12th and burial at Black Hills National Cemetery with military honors provided by Rushmore VFW Post and South Dakota National Guard.

 Don did not serve in the military during World War II. However, because of his contribution to the war effort, Congress granted him an honorary discharge from the U.S. Airforce effective August 14, 1945. He went on the South Dakota Honor Flight in August 2009.