Visitation: Family will greet visitors one hour prior to the service.
Service: A Celebration of Richard’s Life will begin at 2:30 p.m. Monday, May 18, 2026 at Canton Lutheran Church, Canton, SD.
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Richard (Dick) died on December 21, 2025 in Las Cruces, NM where he and his wife, Clarice, had lived for many years. He was born on April 19, 1929 in Dubuque, Iowa to Laura (Nagel) Irons and Nevin Irons. He lived in Clayton, Iowa until 1941 when his family moved to New Hampton, Iowa. Dick graduated from high school in 1946 at the age of 17. After graduation, he immediately enlisted in the U.S. Army and was sent to Japan as part of the occupation troops. When he returned home from Japan in 1948, he joined the U.S. Army Reserves. Dick became a student at Hamilton Business College in Mason City, Iowa until he was called back into the Army to serve in Korea in 1950 for eleven months.
After his discharge from the US Army he came home to Canton, SD where his parents had moved to in 1950. On July 12, 1952 Dick married Evelyn Kluver, who he had met while he was a student at business college in Mason City. They were married until 1959 when Evelyn unexpectedly died leaving three young children. In 1960 Dick began his career in the Canton post office where he retired in 1988 as the postmaster.
Dick married Clarice Byrnes on June 10, 1967 and he later adopted her two sons. Dick and Clarice celebrated 58 years of marriage and loved traveling together in their RV for many years.
Dick was a past Master of Silver Star Lodge #4, past Commander of the V.F.W. Post 3164 in Canton, a member of the National Association of Retired Federal Employees (NARFE), and a member of the United Postmasters Association (UPMA). He volunteered in his retirement for several years at Memorial Hospital in Las Cruces, NM, and also volunteered at Mountain View Regional Medical Center. He was a longtime member of Canton Lutheran Church and later was a member of Peace Lutheran Church in Las Cruces.
Richard was preceded in death by his parents, his first wife, Evelyn, and a brother who died at birth.
He is survived by his wife, Clarice (Engman) Irons, of Santa Fe, NM, daughter, Julie (Doug) Verley of Canton, SD, sons David (Nancy) Irons of Amelia, OH, Timothy from Sioux Falls, SD, Marshall Irons from Denver, CO, and Barry (Jean) Irons of Santa Fe, NM; grandchildren Laura (Steve) Blankenship, Rachel Verley, Brian (Megan) Verley, Grant Irons, Laura Irons, Mitchell Irons, Bridger Irons, Ben Irons and Sam Irons and five great grandchildren. Other survivors include his brother, Eugene (Gwen) Irons from Mesa, AZ and his sisters-in-law, Eleanor Kluver and Glenys (Dale) Bird.
Visitation will be held at Canton Lutheran Church, Canton, SD on Monday, May 18th at 1:30 PM with a memorial service following at 2:30 PM. Refreshments and dessert will be served in the church library after the service. Memorials may be given to Canton Lutheran Church Endowment Fund or the Forest Hill Cemetery Association.
MY SINCERE SYMPATHY TO DICKS FAMILY ON YOUR GREAT LOSS.
Thanks Ila,
Thank u for being a great person and neighbor thru the years
Sincerely
Tim Irons
Ila, Thank you for your message.
I am so sorry for your loss. Dick was a great mentor and a good friend. Sympathy to Clarice and the kids!
Very sorry to learn of Dick’s passing. I enjoyed my weekly conversations with Dick and Clarice also. Nora and my grand kids would always ask if I had talked to Dick for the week. Our condolences to Clarice and the family. Dick is at rest now but for the rest of us, he will be missed.
Julie, so sorry to hear about your dad. Our deepest sympathies to you and your entire family.
I am eternally grateful for the gift of Dick and Clarice as next door neighbors here in Las Cruces from 2005 to 2024. They have both been a gift to me and my late husband, Gerry, and a genuine delight and life resource. The term “Neighbors” could well be defined in totality by “Irons.” We have deeply missed them and the years of sharing our lives, ups, downs, fun, celebration, ongoing conversation, humor, and of course, all our dear doggies. They are unprecedented and, of course, irreplaceable. Bless Dick’s dear soul, and so much love to my for-life friend, Clarice. I hold you both in my heart and soul. Thank you so very, very much..we were so fortunate to buy a house next door to yours many years ago. My sympathies to the family, many of whom we have met over the years. I wish you all fulfilling lives and contentment. I also wish we could be there to pay our respects to the entire family.
Dave and Tim, I am so sorry for the passing of your Dad. I was planning on coming to the funeral, but forgot. Hope everything is good for you guys. Your Dad was a very good man. I always enjoyed talking to him.