Kenneth L. "Ken" Glaser, age 85, of Custer, SD, passed away October 5, 2016, at the Custer Regional Senior Care Center in Custer, SD.

Ken was born to Roy and Dorothy Glaser on July 2, 1931, in Dubuque, IA. He married Nancy Lea Taubert on April 12, 1986. He attended Dubuque Schools, K through 12. During High School he enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve and was discharged in 1951, to enlist in the United States Air Force during the Korean conflict. Ken served in the Korean War Theater in 1951 and 1952, after which he was assigned to active duty in Sioux City, IA. He was honorably discharged from the Air Force, completing 10 years of active duty. Ken was then employed by the Metz Baking Company of Sioux City, where he remained until he was employed full time in the Iowa Air National Guard and served until retirement in 1991, completing a military career of 29 years. He retired as Custer County Veterans Service Officer in 2006 after completing 14 years.

Ken was very active in Freemasonry becoming a Master Mason on October 4, 1966, in Triangle Lodge #643, Sioux City and served as Worshipful Master in 1974. He was a member of the Sioux City Scottish Rite Bodies, the Abu Bekr Shrine of Sioux City, and the Sioux City York Rite Bodies. Ken
was a plural member and a life member of Custer City Lodge #66 in Custer, and was elected
Worshipful Master in 1996. He demitted from all of the appendant bodies in Sioux City and became
a member of the Black Hills Scottish Rite Bodies of Deadwood, SD, of which he is a Life Member. He was
Coroneted Inspector General Honorary, 33rd Degree, in 2001, as well as a member of the York Rite
Bodies in Rapid City and the Naja Shrine in Rapid City. Ken was Treasurer for the Naja Legion of
Honor for 14 years as well as a Past Junior Deacon and Past Junior Warden of the South Dakota
Lodge of Masonic Research. He was Past President of the Masonic Veterans Association of South
Dakota. Ken was District Master of the Grand Lodge AF&AM of South Dakota for 4 years and was
installed as Grand Master of Masons of South Dakota in June, 2006. He was commissioned Grand
Lodge Representative to the Grand Lodge of Utah in 2001, and was presented the Grand Cross of
Color of the International Order of Rainbow, for Girls in 1977. Ken was elected and invested with the
Honorary DeMolay Legion of Honor in 2007. He was a Past lllustrious Master, Black Hills Council
#3, Past lllustrious Grand Chaplain of Cryptic Masons of South Dakota, Life Member of the Order
of Thrice lllustrious Masters in the State of South Dakota. Ken was honored to receive the ISH-SODI
award in 1996. He was also Past Pre-Eminent Governor of the Black Hills York Rite College #29 of
Rapid City.

Survivors include his wife, Nancy; his daughter, Loxi Arndt, her husband, Michael, and his grandson Austin of Hinton, IA; step daughters, Kathy Gibson; Lisa Dirks; and Sherry Stout, 8 step grandchildren and 7 step great grandchildren.

Ken was preceded in death by his parents, a brother and sister.

Memorial services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, October 10, 2016, at the Custer Community Church, with Rev. Dustin Bartlett officiating, masonic funeral rites to follow, provided by Custer City Lodge # 66.

Committal services will be held 11:00 a.m., Monday, June 5, 2017, at the Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis with Rev. Dustin Bartlett officiating.