Burnell Richard Gaskins, 77, Nisland, died Tuesday, May 29, 2012 at the Rapid City Regional Hospital Hospice House.

Visitation will be noon until 9 p.m. on Friday at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis.

Funeral services will be 11:00 a.m. on Saturday at the Nisland Independent Community Church with Pastor Doug Clark officaiting.

Burial will be at the Rosehill Cemetery in Spearfish.

There will also be a memorial service at 2:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 3, 2012 at Echo Ridge.

Memorials have been established to the American Cancer Socieity and the Rapid City Regional Hospital Hospice House.

Burnell was born February 27, 1935 in Rapid City to Charles and Pearl (Sell) Gaskins. After graduating from high school he joined his father in the cabinet making business.

On June 6, 1953 he married Helen Dell in Rapid City. The couple moved to Avon, SD where they farmed for a short time. They returned to the Rapid City area where he continued to build cabinets. Burnell started as a lineman for Northwestern Bell in 1953. After 31 years of service he retired and moved to Nisland.

In 1989 Burnell and Helen visited every west river county seat by team and wagon. They paraded their team into the South Dakota State Fair in Huron.

Burnell was a charter member of the Muzzleloaders of the Black Hills; member of the Telephone Pioneers, life member of the National Rifle Association and a Diamond Life Member of the National Wild Turkey Federation. He was an avid gun enthusiast and loved to hunt and fish. He also loved World War II History especially aviation and the airplanes.

Survivors include his wife Helen Gaskins, Nisland; one daughter, Sandy (Tom) Ashmore, RC; one son, Randy (Jennifer) Gaskins, Sturgis; one sister, Glorene Plambeck, Clatskanie, OR; also 7 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren and several "adopted" sons.

He was preceded in death by his parents, one sister, three brothers, one sister in law and one brother in law.

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