Duane (Dewey) Lee Angerhofer, WØZUS, of rural Edgemont, SD, became a Silent Key on March 20, 2010, at Rapid City Regional Hospital in Rapid City, SD. He was 83.

He was born August 28, 1926 to Edward and Pearl Wiltfang Angerhofer in Mansfield, Spink County, SD, where he spent his childhood days. He attended grades 1 through 8 in a two room school in Mansfield; grades 9 through 10 at Northville, SD; completing his high school education at Aberdeen, SD, and graduating from there in 1946.
He attempted to join the military, but was unsuccessful due to the fact that his knees had been left in a weakened condition following a bout with Rheumatic fever. On July 7, 1947, he joined the National Guard, and served until April 18, 1949, when he received an honorable discharge.

At the age of 17, he repaired radios in Aberdeen for Gambles after school, and nights for Danielson Radio. In 1946, he began work fill-time with Danielson (later to become Danielson Brost Company) working there until 1959. He began Federal service May 1959 with the Department of Army, Igloo, SD, as a radio equipment installer and repairer. In April 1965 he transferred to the Bureau of Reclamation, CRSP Power Operation Office, in Montrose Colorado, as an electronic equipment mechanic, later to become foreman. In the early 1970s, he was selected to be detailed to the TEKTITE II, a Federal Government sponsored project for underwater living, in the Virgin Islands; he remained on detail there for 120 days. In 1977, the Power Operations Center split, housing both the Bureau of Reclamation and Department of Energy; Duane became Supervisor of Communications for the Dept. of Energy, the position he held until his retirement in 1986. He always said that his work was never work, because he enjoyed everything he did.

Duane married Angeline Kathleen Schwan July 15, 1946 in Aberdeen, SD; the marriage ended in divorce. On August 30, 1974, he married Ruth Geneva Titus Leffler in Montrose, CO.

From his early years, he was interested in radio and, in 1947 received his Ham Radio license with the call letters W0ZUS. He was very active in Ham Radio and enjoyed the many contacts and friends he made over the air. Between 1954 and 1958, while living in Aberdeen, SD, he built two stock race cars and hired Jack Aggen, Jerry VanDover and Cal Jung to drive them. They raced throughout South Dakota, North Dakota, Minnesota and Winnipeg Canada, and were very successful. He was a "Car Guy", loved old cars and the Nascar races. He loved machine work, anything electronic or mechanical and always had a project in the works. He was a man of many talents and could build, restore, or repair anything he set his mind to. But, most of all, he loved the great outdoors and wide open spaces, and was content and happy with his way of life.

Pages could be filled about his personal attributes, but he was a very humble man and always said all he wanted said about him was that he was a good man and he was in every sense of the word.

He is survived by his wife, Ruth of rural Edgemont, SD; four sons, David Joe (Elaine), Mt. Pleasant, UT; Norman Rae (Sheila), So. Jordan, UT; Paul John (Rebecca), Highland, UT; and Daniel Duane, West Valley City, UT; three daughters, Cynthia (Cindy) Balaz (William Jr.), Loma, CO; Kathy Nan Bell (Charles), Sandy, UT; and Becky Fay (Dave) Knotek, Clinton, UT; a stepson, Kevin Ray Leffler, Dewey, AZ.; 35 grandchildren and 17 great grandchildren; his sister LaVaun (Bonnie) Palmer, Mansfield, SD.

He was preceded in death by his parents; daughter, Amy Lou Romero; son, Philip Edward Angerhofer; granddaughter, Amelia Lynn Angerhofer; two sisters, Joyce Angerhofer and Ceilo Heidenreich.

Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m., Saturday, March 27, 2010, at McColley's Chapel of the Hills in Hot Springs, SD, with Dr. J. Edwin Coates officiating. Visitation will be held one hour prior to the funeral service. Burial will be at the Warner Cemetery, Warner, SD.

Honorary pallbearers will be his friends Benny Hatch, Gary Peterson, Bruce Murdock, Dr. David Evans, Don Hensley, Gary Schuh, Doug Stewart and Dallas Stewart. Organist will be Suzanne Hollenbeck ,soloist will be Tim Andersen.

A memorial has been established in Duane's name to benefit the Ham Radio Association. Contributions may be sent in care of Ruth Angerhofer, PO Box 540, Edgemont, SD 57735.

Arrangements have been placed in the care of McColley's Chapel of the Hills in Hot Springs. Written condolences can be made at www.mccolleyschapels.com.