About Us
Preamble
"For God and Country, we associate ourselves together for the following purposes: To uphold and defend the Constitution of the United States of America; to maintain law and order; to foster and perpetuate a one hundred per-cent Americanism; to preserve the memories and incidents of our associations in all wars; to inculcate a sense of individual obligation to the community, state and nation; to combat the autocracy of both the classes and masses; to safeguard and transmit to posterity the principles of Justice, Freedom and Democracy; to consecrate and sanctify our comradeship by our devotion to mutual helpfulness."
This is the preamble to our Post's constitution. Today people would think of it as a mission statement. It is that and more. Our preamble guides the Post's activities and regulates the Post's existence.
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History
Custer Post #46, The American Legion, South Dakota Department was established by Temporary Charter on
28 July 1919 in Custer City, South Dakota. Permanent Charter was granted on 06 May 1931. Residing in various locations in its over one century of existence, the Post Home is now in the Custer School District Administration Building where it continues its activities to support veterans' affairs and the community of Custer. Charter Members are remembered and listed on the History.
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Organizational Status
Custer Post # 46 is an unincorporated, organized, veterans (patriotic) association; properly established with the IRS, experiencing revenue, and possessing certain federal tax exemptions. The Post is chartered under the South Dakota Department of the American Legion. It was established with the IRS on April 04, 1984, as a 501(c)(19) Exempt Organization under the auspices of the American Legion National Headquarters.
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Regulating Documents
The Post was established by Charter, created by Constitution, and regulated through By-laws. All are available at the "Documents and Publications" page of this website.
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Operations & Activities
Post operations are conducted by its officers who are listed below. Activities are proposed and approved by members at Post meetings and conducted by the members with Post Officer support.
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Meetings
Regular business meetings are conducted the second Tuesday of each month (with one exception) from 6:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. They are held in room 105 of our Post Home, the Custer School District Administration Building (Old Custer High School) at 527 Montgomery St, Custer SD. The annual exception to the monthly schedule is each March when the business meeting is replaced by an open meeting for the Legion Birthday supper. Visiting Legionnaires are welcome and should contact the Post Adjutant at (605) 673-3930 to arrange attendance. Those attending should arrive not later than 6:15 p.m.
Note: Entry is from the Montgomery St. doors and same level parking is available immediately east of the doors.
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Affiliations
In addition to its American Legion hierarchy, Custer Post #46 is affiliated with:
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Custer Senior Center Life Member
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Cold Springs Historical Society Life Member
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Custer Area Veterans Memorial Member
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Custer Area Chamber of Commerce Member
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Post 46 Officers
Post Commander Glen E Talley Jr (Custer Co. Vice Cmdr)
1st Vice Commander Corbin Herman
2nd Vice Commander Richard Brierly
Adjutant Don Hone (District 2 Vice Commander)
Finance Officer James "Pat" Flanagan
Chaplain Rob McWhorter
Sgt At Arms Todd McBride
Americanism Steve Hone
Public Relations Jim Welch (Custer County Commander)
Executive Board (At Large) Jim Welch
VFW 3442 Liason Tony Gonsor
Auxiliary Unit 46 Officers
President Dawn Murray
First Vice President Pat Hattervig
Secretery Amanda Carlin
Treasure Donna Talley
Chaplin Mary Gonsor
Charter Granted January 9th 2024
Original Unit 46 Officers
The following Women, were the First Officers of Custer Unit 46, American Legion Auziliary
Installed 11 December 1925
Original Charter Applied for January 1926
Original Charter Granted 10 March 1926
Original Charter Cancelled 13 June 2008
President Jeanne Hanley
1st Vice President Margaret McCullagh
2nd Vice President Mrs S.H. Neavill
Secretery Josie Heidepriem
Treasurer Leona Endecott
Historian Mrs. Mark Hendrickson
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S. A. L. Officers
South Dakota Squadron 46
Sons of the American Legion
Commander Steve Hone
Vice Commander Mark Geraets
Adjutant David Lehman Finance Officer Pat Flanagan​
Chaplain Brandon Brierly
Director Mark Geraets
Assistant Director Corbin Herman
Secretary Paul Larson
Treasurer Pat Flanagan
Ride Captain Steve Hone
Assistant Road Captain
Sgt at Arms Bob Hugelman Chaplain Tom Burke
Historian Tony Gonsor
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OFFICERS
Custer Chapter 46
American Legion Riders
MG Fredrick Steele GAR POST 94
Founding Members & Membership
MG Frederick Steel
CUSTER STEELE POST NO 94
Post 94 was chartered December 7, 1885, with the following members:
Booth, S.M; Boyden, J.A.; Carr, J.C.; Feay, A.T.; Fisher, J.S.; Flick, D.W.; Foster, J.W.; Green, G.H.; Haserodt, C.A.: Johnson, Alfred; Lavoie, J.B.; Lunger, James; Shankland, S.BR; Smith; A.P.; Stone, H.J. and Wilcox, Absalom.
Members
Those Members in Bold are buried in the Custer City Cemetery
Allebach, Francis; Private
Arnold, T.H.; Private
Ayers, F.M.; b. Humansville, MO 1843. Private and Corporal, Co. C 8th MO Cav.; 1862 to March 7, 1865
Baker, John F.; b. South Bend, IN 1843
Belknap, C.M.; Private
Booth, Stephen M.; Private, Co. E 38th WI Inf
Bower, Israel; b. NY 1846; Private and Sergeant, Co. D 4th WI Cav.; Feb 2nd 1864 to May 28th 1866
Boyden, J.A., Private
Boynton, Francis A.; b New Hampshire, 1833; Private and Captain, Co F 7th WI Inf;
Aug 19th 1861 to July 13th 1865
Brady, James Private
Cannon, W.J.; b England 1814; Private, Co. F 7th IA Cav; Dec 27th 1863 to May 17th 1866
Carr, John C.; b Ohio 1837; Private and Sergeant, Co H 3rd IA June 9th 1861 to July 1864
Clark, James; Private, Co F 129th Ohio Vol.; Co. B 174th Ohio Vol.
Cole, Abner L.; b 1844; Private, Co. H 9th NY Cav 1862 to 1865
Cole, James R.; Q.M.S. Co. F 4th WI Cav; July 10th 1861 to July 18th 1864
Conover, Robert F.; b Jeanesville PA,, 1839; Private and 1st LT., Co B 7th IN Inf.; Co A 135th IN Inf
April 15th 1861 to ______
Courtney, D.W.; b Ohio; Private and Com.Sgt.; Co F 13th Ohio V.I. June 4th 1861 to Jan 13th 1866
Crary, D.C.; Private
Collins, John A.; (aka. John A. Cox); b OH 1841; Private, Co G 1st OH Inf; August 1861 to 1864
Crusen, J.R.; b MI 1837; Private Co F 26th IA Inf; Aug 11th 1862 to June 6th 1865
Damon, Joseph; Private
Drew, A.W.; b Stoneham, ME, 1846; Private, Co. D 65th IL Inf; April 7th 1862 to April 8th 1865
Edmons, Oliver; b Norway, 1844; Private, Co. D 36th IL Inf; 1861 to Sep 1864
Feay, Alfred T.; Private
Fisher, J.S.; Private
Fletcher, W.E.; Private, 1st Kansas,; 1861 and served 3 months
Flick, D.W.; Private
Flynn, E.H.; Private
Foley, Michael; b Ireland; Private, Co's H and I 4th U.S. Artillery April 9th 1862, served 3 years
Foster, J.W.; Private
Gaylord, George W.; b Lee Col, IL, 1845; Private and 1st LT., 2nd Battery MN Vol; Oct 10th 1861 to Aug 16th 1865
Gillette, Url; Private
Green, George H.; Private
Hansen, F. E.; Private
Haserodt, Charles A.; Private
Hunt, E.C.; Private
Jackson, Stephen; b Augusta OH, 1843; Private and Corporal; A Co. 32nd OH Inf; July 12th 1861 to 5th July 1865
Johnson, Alfred; b England 1847; Private, Co A 296th PA
Johnston, C.S.; b IN, 1840
Lavole, J.B.; Private in a Dakota Regiment
Lunger, James; b PA, 1834; Private, Co. I 141st PA Inf; Aug 12th 1882 to May 28th 1865
Maple, James B.; b Ohio 1837; Private and Corporal, Co. C 86th O.V. Inf; June 5th 1861 to Sep 25th 1861
McAdam, William F.; b Philidelphia, PA; Priate, Co. H 50th PA Inf
McCarthy, J.R.; Private
McGregor, Morris M.; b Ohio, 1846; Private, Co. F 66th OH Inf; July 18th 1862 to May 24th 1865
McGuire, Dennis; Private
McKee, H.W.; Private
McKee, Robert; Private
McKirahan, Josiah; b Belmont Co. OH; Private, Co. F 66th OH Inf; July 21st 1861 to Nov 30th 1862
McKnight, Adam; b Dolphin, PA., 1846; Private and 2nd Lt, Co. F 5th PA Vol Inf; 4th PA Vol Cav.; April 20 1861 to July 1st 186
McLaughlin, M; Private
McProcunier, F.; b Canada, 1838; Private, Co. E 7th IL Cav; March 1st to Sept 23rd 1865
McVey, E.K.; Private
Merrifield, Harry; b IN 1837; Private, Co. I 3rd IA Inf
Mills, Anson K.; b NY 1843; Private, Co. D 23rd OH; 1861 to 1864
Monaghan, T.L.; Private
Nelson, Irvin; Private
Palmer, J.S.; Private
Pike, J. W.; Private
Pomroy, Robert; b IL, 1840; Private and 2nd Lt., Co., I 1st IL Cav.; Co. C 87th IL Cav; May 1861 to July 3rd 1865
Porter, B F.; Private
Putnam, A.C.; b NY, 1843; Private, Co., E 31st IA Inf; Aug 14th 1862 to 1863
Riley, John; Private
Rogers, Hezekiah D.; Private, Co. A 46th WI Inf
Rue, L. L.; Private, Co. C 3rd MN Inf
Rue, L.S.; Private
Ruchel, Henry; b. Gemany, 1842; Private, Co B 58th IL Inf; Dec 16th 1863 to April 1st 1866
Shankland, Samuel R.; b Summerfield OH 1836; Private,, Co A 2nd CA Inf June 18th 1864 to June 30th 1866
Slater, George M.; Private, Co. G 128th IN
Smith, Albion P.; Private
Smith, Daniel; b OH, 1844; Private, Co. I 15th OH Inf; Sep 2nd 1861 to Jan 1st 1866
Smith, John; Private
Smith, Lyman; b NY, 1842; Private, Co. D 5th WI Inf; Aug 7th 1864 to June 29th 1865
Stqalcup, J.; b WV, 1843; Private, Co. G 39th MO Inf
Stoflet, G. W.; Private
Stone, Henry J.; b MI, 1843; Private, Co D 10th IA Inf; Aug 1861 to Aug 1865
Strode, Newton; b OH, 1846; Private Co D 15th IA Inf; Oct 13th 1863 to Aug 5th 1865
Sweet, T. P.; Private, 20th IL
Tubbs, Lester; b Vermont 1833; Private, Co A 12th MI Inf; Nov 14th 1863 to Feb 15th 1866
Wilcox, Absolom; b Canada, 1831; Private and Sergeant, Co., E 25th MO Inf; Co C 1st MO Eng.; Feg 26th 1862 to March 7th 1865
Willard, A. M.; b WI 1848; Private,, Co A 43rd WI Inf
Withrow, Isaac; b Kentucy; Private Co A 4th IA; 1861 to 1863
Wood, Ruggles; b IL; Private, Co G 75th IL Vol; Aug 12th 1862 to Jan 12th 1865
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Notable Members
Francis H. Case, past SD State Representative and SD State Senator
Harold H. Handley, past Circuit Court Judge
M. L. Slade, First Department Commander past State Highway Commissioner, and first Superintendent of Custer State Park
Clarence Cowlaski past State Veterans Service Officer
Kenneth L. Glaser, past Grand Master of South Dakota Masons and past Custer County Veteran Service Officer
Darold D. Couch, past VFW Department Commander
Ken Irwin, past Custer County Commission Chairman and past County Veteran Service Officer
Donna Talley, Executive Director of Women Escaping a Violent Environment (W.E.A.V.E.) Member of Daughters of Republic of Texas & Daughters of American Revolution, ZONTA, BETA , Founding Member/Board Member - South Dakota Coalition for Children, 2014 Custer "Citizen of the Year", Daughters of the American Revolution 2024 Honoree for Women in American History, for South Dakota
Curtis Halverson, past SD Department American Legion Vice Commander, past Post Commander
Edwin Thompson, past SD Department American Legion Vice Commander​
Custer Post 46 Legion Family
Custer Post 46 maintains Charters for both the Legion Riders and Sons of the American Legion
