Victor Charles Pengra

Rapid City, SD

1933, 1792, Mayo, F-13, LEM

Victor Charles Pengra was born 29 Sep 1911 in Buffalo Gap, South Dakota, son of Marshall Hylon "Roy" Pengra and Jennie Luvan Marty. His mother died in 1920 and his father in 1932. Old residents of Buffalo Gap recall that Vic, all of 5'5" tall, played on the winning State B Buffalo Gap basketball team because there were only five boys in the school.

He married Gladys Eudora Burton on 2 Jun 1940 in Rapid City. They adopted a daughter, Patricia Marie Pengra, 25 Nov 1946; their son, Roy Wyatt Pengra, was born 1 Aug 1947.

He operated Pengra Construction Company in Rapid City for almost 50 years, during which time he also raised organic produce, chickens and eggs. Later he maintained beehives northeast of Rapid City, eventually serving as a state bee inspector.

Pengra was past Worshipful Master of Mt. Rushmore Masonic Lodge #220, past Worthy Patron of O.E.S. Golden Link Chapter #14 and active in both Scottish and York Rites.

His son Roy remembers that his father recounted that he helped build a power line from Custer to Harney Peak during his tenure in the CCC. By WWII, Victor was too old to fight but volunteered to go to Alaska where he helped construct an airport runway for aircraft protecting the west coast.

Pengra died 16 Jan 2005 in Rapid City.

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