James L. Ryan, 69, Rapid City, died Saturday Dec. 22, 2007 at Hospice House of the Hills. James L. Ryan was born April 9, 1938 in Morristown, SD to Leo Patrick and Mildred Marie (Connors) Ryan. He grew up in Morristown and graduated from Redfield High School. He entered the US Air Force October 1955 and was honorably discharged May 1959. He married Janet K. Durst on January 21, 1961 in Rapid City. They lived in Rapid City where he worked as a meat cutter at Black Hills Packing Company for 27 years. They moved to Lincoln, NE in 1990 where he worked for the Lincoln Public Schools and later Duncan Aviation. He retired in 2004 and moved to Norfolk returning to Rapid City in the summer of 2007. He was an avid Nebraska Cornhusker football fan and loved gardening. He was a member of the Eagles.He is survived by son Robert D. and wife Jan Ryan, Keysville, GA, daughter, Debra S. and husband Jason Yonkey, Lincoln, NE, son, Daniel and wife Candy Ryan, Rapid City; 5 grandchildren, Jason Croyle, Michael Ryan, Kaylene Farmer, Brandon Ryan, Ashley Hutson; a great grandchild Isaac Bloomquist and a brother, Jack Ryan, Milwaukee, WS.He was preceded in death by his wife, Janet on July 17, 2003, a son, Michael, a granddaughter, Jenna Lee Croyle, his parents, 2 sisters, and 2 brothers