Darrell Eugene Munson

Darrell Eugene Munson was born January 18, 1933 at the General Hospital in Rapid City, South Dakota, at the height of the Great Depression. The son of Kirsten (Kate) Josefine (Nelson) and Goliat Johannes (Jack) Munson, joined three siblings: two sisters, Alma Jacquline and Selma Maxine, and a half brother, Fred Nelson Oberg. Darrell graduated from Rapid City High School in 1950, at age 17, with honors. He received a Scholarship to the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology where he completed his undergraduate work. He then attended Stanford University where he completed his doctorate work. Darrell has a PhD and MS in Physical Metallurgy (Materials Science) granted in 1960 from Stanford University and a BS granted in 1954 in Process Metallurgy by the South Dakota School of Mines. Darrell was an Assistant Professor of Metallurgy at Washington State University for two years before joining Sandia National Laboratories in 1961. He retired from Sandia in 2003 after nearly 42 years. Thereafter, he was in succession a consultant, employed by COMFORCE, and then Sandia Staffing Alliance in support of programs at Sandia. Darrell was a Distinguished Member of Technical Staff at Sandia National Labs. While at Sandia, Darrell has worked in two distinct areas: the latest based on mineral rock salt behavior and the earlier based on shock wave physics. The latest work involved extensive efforts as a part of the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP) Program. In retirement, Darrell volunteered for several community entities, including the Museum of Natural History and Science. Darrell was a devoted father to Michael and his wife, Jennifer, of Houston, TX, Geoffrey and his wife, Jennifer Giles, of Flower Mound, TX, and Michele McCormick of Albuquerque. He was a cherished grandfather of Cameron, Caden, Tyler McCormick, Colton, Brecken McCormick and Camille. Although Darrell had a special fondness for Albuquerque, his beloved home is and always will be Rapid City, South Dakota. He talked about the Black Hills and his childhood memories often. In lieu of flowers please donate to: New Mexico Natural History Museum http://www.naturalhistoryfoundation.org/membership-donate/or South Dakota School of Mines & Technology Foundation http://foundation.sdsmt.edu/page.aspx?pid=288