George Allen Iversen
George Allen Iversen, age 89, of Murdo, died Saturday, July 24, 2021, at Avera St. Mary’s Hospital in Pierre.
George Allen Iversen was born in Fort Morgan, Colorado on December 10, 1931 to Ole and Emma Iversen. In 1902, Ole and Emma came to Murdo where they homesteaded in 1904. George was the youngest of nine siblings. He attended school in Murdo with his friend and nephew Skip Iversen, who was just three years his junior. They pulled a lot of pranks and remained life-long friends.
Immediately after graduating in 1951, George boarded a greyhound to Rapid City with his friend Raymond Sturner and joined the Air Force. They served as clerk typists in England and Germany during the Korean War. While stationed in England, George met Audrey Barber and married her. Audrey returned with him to Murdo and they had three children: Georganna Edith, Christopher Joseph, and Roy Allen. He was Honorably Discharged in December 1954.
After his service, George came home to the family ranch and ran it with his brother Dale. He was the first in the area to purchase Beefmaster bulls, grow navy bean and triticale, and operate an IH Axial Flow Combine. In 2004, the Iversen Ranch was recognized as a Century Farm by the South Dakota Department of Agriculture.
George was a cattleman, wheat farmer, and an accomplished hobbyist. From flying planes to shopping for Rolls-Royces with his brothers in England; he was a man of many hats. A passionate horseman, George followed the horse-racing circuit from South Dakota to Arizona to Louisiana. He ran thoroughbreds, quarter-horses, and won many trophies for suicide races and even the South Dakota Derby. George was wed to Dorothy Knight from 1966-1968. In 1971, George married Hanna Flatmoe and they purchased a home in Apache Junction, Arizona where they spent the winters and he continued to raise and race horses. Convinced there was gold in the Superstition Mountains, George and Dale would regularly hike the trails together and with family and friends searching for gold. He competed against 327 teams in the Men’s Lost Dutchman Doubles Championship shuffleboard tournament where he took first place. He was very proud of that accomplishment.
George Allen was honored to be a life-long resident of Murdo. He and Hanna donated an engraved stone welcoming residents and visitors to the city of Murdo in honor of his parents, Ole and Emma, and their homestead. Friends and family will greatly miss his witty one-liners and one-of-a-kind stories.
Survivors include three children: Georganna Addison (Jim), Chris Iversen (Cheryl), and Roy Iversen (Judy), 9 grandchildren: Matt Mangulis (Jenny), Marisa Alderson (Nick), Jamilynn Addison, Mandy Lewandowski (Jeff), Ashley Geigle (Seth), Kamaria Labrier (Chauncey), Sophie McKenzie (Craig), Hunter Iversen (Shelby) and George Walker Iversen and, so far, 21 great-grandchildren.
George was preceded in death by his wife Hanna, his parents, Ole and Emma Iversen, his brothers Loren “Buster”, Orville, Truels, and Dale, sisters Rosie, Yvonne, Shirley, and Joyce.
Visitation will be held one hour prior to the funeral service at the church.
Funeral services will be held 10:00 a.m. CDT Tuesday, August 10, at the United Methodist Church in Murdo with Pastor Mark Phillips officiating.
Interment with military honors will follow at the Murdo Cemetery.
Livestream of the service will be available at www.rushfuneralhome.comThose left to cherish his memory are his daughters, Ami Garcia and husband Daniel of Comanche, Texas, Jonna McNeely and husband Colton of Tahoka, siblings, Franklin Dee Raben of Michigan, Gaynold Willoughby and husband Tony of South Dakota, Linus Raben of South Dakota; grandchildren, John Daniel Garcia, D’Namee Dyann Garcia, Kylie Michele McNeely, Averie Brooke McNeely; one great grand daughter on the way; sister-in-law, Cindee Hanes of Post; and several nieces, nephews, extended family and friends.
He is preceded in death by his wife, Michele on November 23, 2017; his parents; siblings, Meredith Pauly, Thomas Raben.
Family will be receiving friends Wednesday, August 4, 2021 from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m. CDT at Combest Family Funeral Homes in Tahoka.
Services will be Thursday, August 5, 2021 at 10:00 a.m. CDT at Combest Family Funeral Homes in Tahoka with burial to follow at Terrance Cemetery in Post, Texas.
Memorial donations in John’s name can be made to the Wounded Warriors Project.
