National American Indian Veterans Co-Founder & Commander Donald E. Loudner, 92, passed away Thursday, February 13, 2025 at the Mitchell Firesteel Healthcare Center.
Loudner was born March 18, 1932, on the Crow Creek Sioux Reservation at Ft. Thompson, SD.
Don was a proud lifelong member of the Hunkpati Dakota (Sioux) Nation. Loudner was a proud Korean War Veteran, retiring as Chief Warrant Officer 4 after 33 years of service. During the war, Don married Joyce (Fallas) Loudner on May 16, 1953. They were married for 55 years until her passing. This union brought them four children: Donita, Rose, Michael, and Don Jr. (Kathy).
Celebrations of Life & Military Honors for Commander Loudner were held March 6 at the Crow Creek Tribal Hall and Bittner Funeral Chapel in Mitchell. On Friday, March 7, memorial services were held at the South Dakota Military Heritage Alliance in Sioux Falls, SD, with final military honors and burial at the South Dakota State Veterans Cemetery in Sioux Falls.
