John Edward Griffith, son of John and Signe Margaret (Nesheim) Griffith, was born July 26, 1931 at Bryant, South Dakota. When he was a child his family moved to Aberdeen where he attended school. They returned to Bryant where he graduated from Bryant High School. In 1949 John entered the US Air Force and served until 1953. In 1954 he joined the Army Reserve and then entered active duty in the Army in 1956 and served until his discharge in 1963. He was united in marriage to Dolores Glover on January 31, 1953 in Woodbury, New Jersey. They moved to Garden City in 1963 and to Castlewood in 1964. John was employed with Northwestern Bell Telephone before retiring in the late 1980's. During his years in Castlewood he did radio and television repair, ran a campground at Lake Kempeska, served as a deputy sheriff and the Civil Defense Director for Hamlin County. John announced American Legion Baseball games in Castlewood for many years and was instrumental in installing the PA system. He was also an avid Ham Radio Operator. He died on Tuesday, August 27, 2013 at the Estelline Nursing and Care Center at the age of 82 years. John was a member of the American Lutheran Church in Castlewood, the American Legion, VFW and the Disabled American Veterans. Grateful for having shared his life are three sons, John Griffith III and his wife Claudette of Robbins, NC, Larry Griffith and his wife Tracy of Germantown, WI, Richard Griffith and his wife Ann of St. Paul, MN; five grandchildren; six great grandchildren; one sister Margie Thoreson and her husband Rolland of Bryant, SD; and a host of other relatives and friends. He was preceded in death by his wife Dolores on August 15, 1982, his daughter Denise Schmit, his parents and one sister Onalee LaChapelle. Funeral services will be 10:30 AM, Saturday, August 31, 2013 at the American Lutheran Church in Castlewood. Visitation is from 4PM to 7PM Friday at Geise Funeral Chapel in Castlewood. Burial with military honors will be at the Castlewood Cemetery.