Val Dean Cleland

Val Dean Cleland Val Dean Cleland, 72, died in Columbia, SC. He was born in Vermillion on Dec. 22, 1935 to Elvin and LoVail Cleland. He grew up in Vermillion graduating from Vermillion High School in 1954 and then attended USD for two years. He joined the Air Force receiving his wings in 1957. He married Marcia Bishop in 1958. He became a pilot attaining the rank of Lt. Colonel. Val Dean completed 118 missions during the Vietnam War and served in Korea before moving to South Carolina and retiring. He was preceded in death by his first wife, Marcia and his parents. He is survived by his wife, Fran; sons, Chris Cleland and Cory Cleland; daughter, Lisa Cleland; four grandchildren, all of Mesa, AZ; sister, Ila Jean Moe, Vermillion; and brother, Terry (Vicky) Cleland, Sioux Falls.