James F. Person, 81, died Sunday, December 30, 2012 at Sanford USD Medical Center. Funeral services will be at 1:00pm Wednesday, January 2, 2012 at Living Word Free Lutheran Church, 85th and Meredith, Sioux Falls with burial with military honors at Woodlawn Cemetery. Visitation with family present will be from 5-7:00pm Tuesday at Heritage Funeral Home, Sioux Falls. James F. Person, son of Helmer and Ruth (Johnson) Person, was born February 7, 1931 on a farm near Hayti, SD. Jim was baptized and confirmed at the Mission Covenant Church in Lake Norden, SD. He attended rural school for one year before his parents bought a farm just south of Hayti. He graduated from Hayti High School in 1949. Jim was active in sports. He loved track and was always ready to play a good baseball game. After high school Jim and his brother Harold rented land and farmed. He worked the land during the growing season and during the winter he worked at the lumber yard in Lake Norden. In 1951 Jim was drafted in the Marine Corp. He served in Korea for one year. When he returned home he attended South Dakota State University on the GI Bill. In 1955 he met Marilyn Jensen at Watermelon Days in Lake Preston. They were married at North Preston Lutheran Church June of 1956. To this union three sons were born: Daryl James, Dale Dean and David Gene. After graduating from SDSU in 1958 Jim began teaching in Lake Wilson, MN. In 1962 they moved to Pierre, SD. Jim went to work for the Health Department as a coordinator and instructor for the Emergency Planning Program. He later worked for the Department of Social Services where he worked with the blind and handicapped. Here, he helped set them up in businesses and supervised this program. Jim retired in February 1996. He loved to travel. He and Marilyn traveled to many countries and each state of the union. Jim was always an active member of the Lutheran Church serving on many different boards and teaching confirmation classes. He was a Boy Scout leader for many years. He enjoyed going with the troops fro their week long camping trips. He was a lifetime member of the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. He was proud of America and took pride in his service in Korea as a Marine. He instilled a love of country and respect for the flag to his family. Grateful for sharing his life is his wife Marilyn. Their sons Daryl, Dale (Patty), David (Stephanie), one grandson Jason, and his sister Mabel Johanson. He is preceded in death by his parents, Helmer and Ruth Person, brothers Harold and Chester. The family would like to extend an invitation for everyone to join them at the Church for a time of fellowship and lunch following the burial.