Owen Richard Perkins

Owen Richard Perkins was born February 27, 1938, to Horace and Elsie (Stangor) Perkins in Claremont, South Dakota. He peacefully passed from this world August 5, 2023. Raised on the family farm, Owen attended country school through the 7th grade. He had the honor of being part of a six-man football team that still holds the national record for the most consecutive wins (61) without a defeat.

Owen earned a full ride football scholarship to North Dakota State University. However, he decided to join the Navy after his first semester of college. He was stationed at Bremerhaven, Germany and Kara Macel, Turkey as a cryptographer. He spent a total of six days on a ship out of his three years in the Navy. While still overseas, Owen began a pen-pal relationship with a student nurse, Lorna Mundhenke, whom he married a year after returning home from the Navy. The couple began their married life in a Quonset hut at Northern State College. There Owen completed a degree in accounting, with one toddler at home and another born the weekend of his college graduation.

Owen began his career in the insurance industry, breaking sales records for many companies and finishing with owning his own brokerage agency in Colorado Springs for 42 years. Owen continued to enjoy athletics throughout his life, including playing hockey, tennis and skiing as long as he was able. He also had a heart for the homeless and during retirement, the highlight of his week was his shift at the Marion House Soup Kitchen serving those in need. Owen also liked welcoming home our Troops from overseas by feeding them the much-coveted American hamburger!

Owen is survived by four daughters: Carmen (Don) Whisonant, Melanie (Carlos) Douglas, Gwen (Eric) Dunn and Clare (Dennis) Huspeni; eight grandchildren and five great-grandchildren, with one more pending. Owen and Lorna enjoyed 63 years of marriage. Owen was preceded in death by his parents, brother Jim, and sister Ardith.

Raised in the Christian faith, Owen remained a strong believer throughout his life. He enjoyed being a member of First Presbyterian Church and the Pathfinders class. Owen expressed his desire to go home and be with The Lord as his blindness and dementia progressively degraded his quality of life. The family would like to thank Dr. Bill Black and Dr. Fred Collins for their dedication to Owen.

A service will be held at First Presbyterian Church on Monday, August 21st, 2023, at 10:00 am, with a reception to follow. Memorial contributions can be given to First Presbyterian Church or the military organization of your choice.