Lawrence R. Steen

Lawrence R. Steen, 90, Rapid City, died Sunday, Oct. 17, 2010 at the Good Samaritan Center in New Underwood.Lawrence was born Dec. 21, 1919 on the family homestead south of Faith. He was the fourth of five boys born to Albert Steen and Elizabeth (Hiner) Steen. He attended the Bachman School for eight years and one year at the Marrietta High School in Hartley (north of Philip) where he boarded. As a young man, he slept and ate in a sheep wagon out on the prairie along with his brothers tending the family sheep. He also worked as a hired hand for area ranchers and for the W.P.A. during the Great Depression. He met the love of his life, Florence McGuire, at a dance in Maurine. They were married July 19, 1941, at Fort Meade. In 1946 they purchased a ranch on Mud Creek in Ziebach County residing there until 1957.He always had a good relationship with the Indians and was made an honorary member of the Red Scaffold Sioux Tribe and given the name “Charging Eagle.” After selling the ranch Lawrence worked for auction barns in Fort Pierre and Highmore and bought the Selby Livestock Auction Co. After moving to Rapid City in 1970, Lawrence acquired some hives and began his bee business, learning the trade from one of western S.D.’s most successful beekeepers. He often said the best part of the bee business was giving a five-gallon bucket of honey to every person who allowed him to place hives on their property. He retired from the bee business in 1994.He is survived by his daughter and son-in-law, Kathleen and Wayne Krause, Rapid City; granddaughter and husband, Lisa and Jeff Torkelson, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.; and brother, Albert Steen Jr. of Faith.He was preceded in death by his parents, Albert and Elizabeth; his wife, Florence; and three brothers, Earl, Charles and Gene.