More detail on this person: Brigadier General Clarence C Or Buzz Knapp of Rapid City Obituaries for Feb. 11 Rapid City Journal, The (SD) - Tuesday, February 10, 2004 RAPID CITY - Brig. Gen. (Ret) Clarence C. "Buzz" Knapp died February 9, 2004, in Rapid City. Buzz was born on a farm near New Underwood, SD on September 14, 1936, to Clyo and Margaret (Mann) Knapp. Buzz graduated from Rapid City High School in 1954 and attained a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of the State of New York a number of years later. He joined the South Dakota National Guard while still in high school in 1954 and ended that career almost 40 years later. He was a full-time employee of the National Guard for over 30 years. He joined the National Guard as a Private, was commissioned a second lieutenant in 1962 and was discharged as the Assistant Adjutant General in 1992 at the rank of Brigadier General. He flew nearly 4,000 accident-free flying hours during his career. He earned several military and civilian awards throughout his career. Military awards earned included the Legion of Merit, four awards of the Meritorious Service Medal, two awards of the Army Commendation Medal (one of those for valor), the Valley Forge Cross for Heroism and Master Army Aviator's Wings. Buzz married Joan Satrang in Britton, South Dakota, on September 29, 1959, and to this marriage two daughters and one son were born. Buzz was a current or previous member of several organizations and boards to include the United Way of Rapid City Board of Directors (President), Rapid City Noon Cosmopolitan Club (President), Rapid City Common Council (President 3 years), Rapid City Airport Board of Directors, Black Hills Area Boy Scout Council Board of Directors, Calvary Lutheran Church, Army Guard Federal Credit Union Board of Directors (31 years), Black Hills Symphony Board of Directors, Life Member of the National Guard Association of the United States, National Guard Association of the United States US Army Aviation Task Force, Central States Fair Board of Directors, Ellsworth AFB Task Force, Rapid City Masonic Lodge #25, NAJA Shriners, Rapid City Shrine Club and Life Member of the Rapid City Elks Lodge #1187. Buzz loved his family, and flying. He also enjoyed playing golf and taking weekend trail rides. Buzz was preceded in death by his father and mother, Clyo and Margaret Knapp. He is survived by his wife Joan of Rapid City; his daughter Rondi, husband Murray Herman and granddaughter Sydney of Lafayette, CO; his son Karl, wife Yvonne "Doc," grandson Austin and granddaughter Corinne of Parker, CO; daughter Sonja Knapp Walton, husband Joe Walton and granddaughters Elise and Courtney of Lawrenceville, VA; brother Henry and wife Joyce; twin sister Clara and her husband Loren Heinrich; brother James (Jim) and his wife Karen; sister Dorothy (Dotty) and her husband Roger Johnson and several other family members and friends. Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday, February 11, at Osheim-Catron Funeral Home in Rapid City with family present. Funeral services will be at Calvary Lutheran Church in Rapid City on Thursday, February 12, at 10 a.m., with Rev. Dwight Stensgaard officiating. Burial with full military honors provided by the South Dakota National Guard will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery. A memorial has been established in Buzz's name to the Shriners Children's Hospital Transportation Fund and Calvary Lutheran Church.
Burial information: Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis, SD
This information was last updated 02/03/2019
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Date posted on this site: 03/10/2024
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