Alfred (AL) Miles Satterlee passed away on December 31, 2025, peacefully and quietly surrounded by his family at the same hospital in Deadwood, SD, where he was born on September 21, 1936, to Clair and Helen Johnson Satterlee. The oldest of five children, he grew up on his Finnish immigrant grandfather August Johnson's homestead at the foot of Custer Peak. Al described his childhood at Custer Peak as the most wonderful place to grow up. His early Christian education began at the Roubaix Union Sunday school. At the age of 15 his father died unexpectedly. The family moved to Lead, SD, where his mother, a former legal secretary, found employment at the Homestake mechanical department. Having a very mechanical mind at an early age, he excelled in those interests and graduated from Lead High School in 1954. Immediately after high school, he began his machinist apprenticeship at the Homestake mine and worked there until March of 1960 where he began employment in Denver as a precision machinist.
     He married Leatha Heinrich on June 5, 1960, and they began their married life together in Denver. Al was employed by various space and computer industry companies in the Denver area and eventually opened his own machine shop in Boulder, CO. While employed at the University of Colorado, he machined a case for a camera which took the first fly-by photos of the planet Mars. He worked with graduate students machining proto-type medical equipment such as heart pumps. Being a man of many skills and talents, he made a career change in 1976 when he, his wife Leatha and children moved back to the Black Hills and started a log home business. He first built a log home for his family and then built 17 log structures throughout the area. With a partner, Al built recreational bridges on the Mickelson Trail, the Silver City Trail, and at Roughlock Falls in Spearfish Canyon. He also completed 3,000 feet of handrail at Veteran's Point at Pactola Lake. There was nothing that Al could not design or create. If there was a need or an idea, he figured it out. This enabled him to enjoy one of his life's passions, cars! In his early 20's he rebuilt a Model T Ford roadster that became a head-turner and won three awards at the annual Counts Car Club show. He helped many others with their car projects as well and never refused anyone who had a problem they could not work out. In recognition of his many interests and pursuits, Al was inducted into the Lead-Deadwood High School Hall of Fame in 2016. Al never officially retired and he continued to tinker on his cars or in his machine shop. Whenever boredom was looming, Al started up another project such as a 1929 Model A Ford that he bought on Ebay and it arrived in boxes full of pieces, parts, and near-fossilized metal that his good friend who was an expert in old car restoration said "was too far gone". This just fueled the fire and Al didn't stop until it was shiny and new just as the day it rolled off Ford's showroom floor. Al also was partial to British motorcycles and loved to ride them and also drive his Triumph TR6 sportscar, with the top down of course. Al was a devoted music student and liked playing his guitar either alone or with his family affectionately known as the "Custer Peakers" in reference to his childhood home. He enjoyed many music genres from classical to bluegrass, to old time country music, or folk, but no rock unless he was forced to listen to some metal while riding in one of his kids' car. Without intending to do it, Al managed to play just about every song he knew in ¾ time, which drew sidelong glances and confused looks from his playing partners, yet he continued on and just assumed everyone would just figure it out!
     Al was a devoted and faithful husband to Leatha in every way and they enjoyed a 65 year marriage that was full of ups, downs, adventures, trials, and everything in the middle. He was deeply loved by his three kids. Whenever there was a need, he met it, but he was no yes man. He guided and counseled with wisdom and when needed, old fashioned tough love with occasional comic relief. He enjoyed off-roading in the high country in Colorado as well as taking his family on a 6-week adventure in the U.S. and Canada in a VW bus. Al was a faithful follower of Jesus Christ and reaffirmed his infant baptism as an adult in a believer’s baptism in 1966. He devoted many years of service to the Lord at Mesa Church in Boulder, Co. and First Baptist Church in Deadwood where he served as a board member at both churches.
     He started and led a Boy Scout troop in Boulder, Colorado, taking the boys on many high country adventures.
     He served his country for seven years with the South Dakota National Guard and two more in the South Dakota National Guard Army Reserve. In recognition for his service, he will be laid to rest with full military honors.
     Al suffered a major heart attack in October of 2023 when his cancer was then discovered. He put forward a valiant fight against that disease until the time of his death. Through it all, he never complained and bravely faced every turn of events toward restoring his health over the last two years.
     Al will be forever cherished and is survived by his wife, Leatha; children, Jayna (Roy) Watson, Julie (Jim Foster) Satterlee, Stuart (Jacqi) Satterlee; Grandchildren, Sawyer Shewak, Riley Shewak, Sophie (Alex) Occhi, James (Allison Vitkus) Foster, Amanda (Michael) Demory, and Tony Simons, and six great grandchildren. His surviving siblings are Warren(Suzy) Satterlee, and Sandra (Jerry) Newman; brother-in-law, Ray Matthies; sisters-in-law, Delores (Gene) Trump, Carol (Wayne) Burchett, Linda Osborn, and Ruth (Tom Nowell); numerous nieces, nephews, and cousins. Al had many close friends and neighbors that were like family to him. They all made his life so fun and enjoyable. Preceding him in death were his parents, Clair and Helen Satterlee; brother, Doyle Satterlee, and Sister, Joann Matthies.
     Arrangements are with the Kinkade Funeral Home, Sturgis, SD. Visitation will be at the funeral home Tuesday, January 6th, from 4 pm – 6 pm. The funeral service will be held at the First Baptist Church, Deadwood, at 2 pm on Wednesday, January 7. A private family burial service will be held before the funeral. 
     In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be forwarded to the First Baptist Church of the Northern Hills, 110 Sherman Street, Deadwood SD 57732.