Allan L. Granum, age 92, died Tuesday, February 10, 2009, at Dakota Sun Assisted Living in Volga, South Dakota. Funeral services will be 10:30 A.M. Saturday, February 14, 2009, at First Lutheran Church in Volga, with interment in the church cemetery. Visitations will be from 4-7 P.M. Friday at Eidsness Funeral Chapel in Volga. In lieu of flowers, memorials may be directed to the Union Gospel Mission in Sioux Falls, First Lutheran Church in Volga, or the American Red. Cross.

Allan LaVerne Granum was born January 7, 1917, near Sinai, South Dakota, to Selmer Carlton and Belda Taye (Anderson) Granum. He was baptized at the East Sinai Lutheran Church. He attended country school near Volga and graduated from Volga High School in 1934. Following graduation he worked for the produce house in Volga. He served in the U.S. Army Medical Corps during World War II, and was stationed in Texas, California, Great Britain, France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany. He was involved in the Battle of the Bulge and was among the first U.S. troops into Buchenwald concentration camp. Following the war, Allan returned to Volga and then moved to Sioux Falls where he worked for John Morrell until 1982. He moved back to Volga in May 2002.

Allan was a member of the V.F.W., American Legion, and Sons of Norway. He enjoyed going to auction sales, furnishing rides to his friends, and taking fresh garden produce to family and friends. True to his Norwegian roots, he provided lutefisk and lefse to the Parkview Home. He loved flower gardening, and while in Sioux Falls enjoyed feeding the geese.

Survivors include his brother, Kenneth Granum, of Volga; a sister-in-law, Muriel Granum, of Volga; and many nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers, Glenon and Reuben; and two sisters, Lillian Hanson and Lorraine Anundson.