Curtis Dally Ireland, 92, passed away peacefully at Monument Health Care Center in Sturgis, SD on June 26, 2026.

Curt was born on September 27, 1933 in Rapid City, SD to Curtis M. and Dorothy (Dally) Ireland.

He graduated from Rapid City High School where he was active in debate. He attended Carleton College in Northfield, MN and graduated in 1955. He married Jane Rose that same year. They moved to Ann Arbor, MI where Curt attended the University of Michigan law school. After completing law school, the family moved to Chicago where Curt practiced law. In 1960, the family moved to Rapid City, SD and Curt joined the law firm Whiting, Lynn, Jackson, Schultz. He later became a partner and the firm was known as Whiting, Lynn, Jackson, Schultz, Ireland, and Lebrun. After raising his four children, Curt left the law firm and began his own practice in Rapid City. He married Cynthia Strom on October 31, 1986 and she worked side by side with him as his office assistant.

While his four children were growing, Curt enjoyed riding horses with them and attending their activities including band concerts, football games, and swimming lessons or swim meets. One favorite family activity was Friday night open swim at the YMCA followed by Shakey’s Pizza. He also enjoyed the outdoors and family camping trips with neighbors in the Black Hills. Curt was an avid runner and biker and competed in triathlons with his kids. Cross-country skiing was another favorite pastime.

After retiring from practicing law, Curt pursued his passion of playwriting and his love of music. He and Cynthia wrote musicals, with Curt providing the dialogue and Cynthia composing the music. Their first production was Trial at Tobray, which debuted at the Rapid City Civic Center. Eventually, they made their home in Sedona, AZ, where they continued to write and perform, and Curt starred as Alfred Doolittle in a community production of My Fair Lady. In Sedona, Curt also pursued his love of history, civics, and law by teaching history at the Middle School level in Verde Valley. He also shared all his passions through teaching Ollie Community Ed classes. Curt was active in a book/current event group and enjoyed having friends over for a movie/discussion night.

Left to cherish his memory are his children/step-children Victoria Kearney, Sioux Falls SD; David

(Mary) Ireland, Hermosa SD; Ken (Cindy) Ireland, Sturgis SD; Holly (Tim) Serbousek, Louisburg KS; Christi (Branko) Gilhoi, San Diego CA; 10 grandchildren; 6 great-grandchildren; and 2 nephews.

He was preceded in death by his wife, Cynthia; his parents; his sister and brother-in-law, Betty (Stan) Halla; his niece, Diane Halla; and his son-in-law, Patrick Kearney.

A private family memorial/celebration of life will be held at a later date.