Erland W. Juntunen, 95, of Lake Norden, passed away Saturday, October 8, 2016, at the Golden Living Center, in Arlington, SD. Funeral services will be held at 10:00 am Thursday, October 13, 2016, at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lake Norden, SD. Visitation will be from 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm Wednesday at Geise Funeral Chapel in Lake Norden.

Erland W. Juntunen was born on May 25, 1921, in Hamlin County, SD, the son of Vean and Teckla (Sotka) Juntunen. He attended school at Bryant and graduated from Lake Norden. He lived briefly in Detroit, MI, and Seattle, WA, before enlisting in the Army Air Corp in 1941. While in the service, he served in England, North Africa, Italy and Corsica, working on P-38 aircrafts. He was honorably discharge in 1945 in Watertown, SD. He met and was united in marriage to Eldora Koistinen on December 10, 1945. They made their home in Berkley, CA for a few years before returning to Lake Norden, SD, where he began a career in farming. While farming, he also worked at Earl's Garage in Lake Norden, retiring in 1993. In May of 2015, he moved into assisted living.

Erland and Eldora enjoyed many years traveling and spent 30 winters in Arizona. The couple visited every state in the country except Alaska, as well as traveling outside of the United States. Erland was a member of Trinity Lutheran Church in Lake Norden, as well as the VFW and American Legion. Over the years, he served on many community, church, and county boards including the school board.

Grateful for having shared his life are his children, Judy (Bill) Bartholow, of Huron, SD and Jim (Cynthia) Juntunen, of Brookings, SD; his grandchildren, Mike (LeAnn) Bartholow, of Cavour, SD, Bonnie (Joshua) Biel, of Huron, SD, Joshua (Danielle Johannessen) Juntunen, of Crookston, MN, and Elisabeth (John McCaffrey) Juntunen, of Baltic, SD, and his great grandchildren, Ethan, Addison and Max Bartholow and Ella McCaffrey.

Erland is preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Eldora; one brother, Elwood and two sisters, Eunice Larson and Violet Lawson.