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​Lon D. Minier was born to Fred and Ida Mae (Cameron) Minier on February 28, 1900 near White, South Dakota. Fred was a pioneer resident in Brookings county. He worked as an implement and machinery man and then went on to serve two terms as sheriff of Brookings County. Lon joined an older brother, Earl and then two sisters joined the family (Dorothy and Laura).
 

Lon was a member of the US Army during WWI. He served with Battery C of the 147th Field Artillery unit. After the war, he married Myrtle Hartley on May 23, 1921. They lived in the White area where he served as Deputy Sheriff. In May of 1928, he and Pete Mershon, a citizen, encountered an armed Bootlegger. Shots were fired and the unnamed Bootlegger died. He became a father to a son, Norman (1925) in Montana where Lon was a Vocational Trainee. They also lived in the Rapid City, SD area; Fort Dodge, IA; Sioux Falls, SD and other areas. Myrtle died on August 18, 1980 and Lon died on September 30, 1980 in San Jose, CA. He is buried in Fairview Cemetery, White, SD.

 

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US Army, WWI

​Battery C of the 147th Field Artillery Unit

Officially nicknamed the “First South Dakota,” the 147th Field Artillery Regiment was first organized as the 2nd Regiment in the South Dakota militia in 1884 and 1885. Re-designated as the 1st South Dakota Volunteer Infantry (hence the nickname), the unit served in two campaigns in the Philippine Insurrection and was mustered into Federal service for Mexican border duty prior to being drafted into Federal service on 5 August 1917. It would be consolidated with two batteries from the Oregon Field Artillery to form the 147th Field Artillery and take part in six World War I campaigns, earning a French Croix de Guerre with Gilt Star for its actions in the Aisne-Marne and Oise-Aisne campaigns.

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http://www.uniforms-4u.com/p-army-147-field-artillery-battalion-unit-crest-9327.aspx