DALLAS RICHARD BLOMQUIST, SR.
June 2, 1923 - October 19, 2015

Dallas Richard Blomquist Sr., was born to Carl Victor and Agnes (Mell) Blomquist on June 2, 1923 in Stanchfield, Minnesota.

Dallas entered the U.S. Marines in August 1942, serving in World War II. He left the service in 1945. For his bravery he was awarded the Purple Heart Medal of Honor. Some of Dallas' war stories are as follows:

"I remember when the Higgin's boat reached the shore of Peleliu in 1944. The front ramp wouldn't fully go down. There were too many dead
and dying Marines on the beach."

"I spent 28 continuous days in a foxhole. We wore our clothes and boots all the time, night and day. We wouldn't take them off even to go to the bathroom."

"I was a rifleman when we got to Guadalcanal. I stumbled upon a dead Marine who had a Browning automatic rifle. I wanted the extra fire power, so I took it. I remained a BAR man the rest of my time in the war."

Dallas married Darlene Graham March 4, 1950, making their home in Grandy, Minnesota for several years, later moving to Edgewood, Minnesota. Dallas worked for a number of years as a truck driver, hauling Ford cars and trucks before moving on to Larsen Cycle in Cambridge. The family moved to Piedmont, South Dakota in 1981 where Dallas enjoyed going to auctions where he would buy tools to clean up and resell. He enjoyed wheeling and dealing with antiques and collectibles, traveling and spending winters in Arizona. For entertainment, NASCAR was at the top of his list with his favorites being drivers of Ford cars.

Dallas Richard Blomquist Sr., 92, died October 19, 2015 at Rapid City Regional Hospital Hospice of the Hills, in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Survivors include his wife of 65 years, Darlene Blomquist. Grandchildren, Shannon (Christopher) Blomquist and Tracy Blomquist. Great grandchildren, Mitchell Blomquist, Breanna Blomquist, Jordan Blomquist, Mattie Blomquist and great-great grandchildren, Caiah and Nikisha, all living in the Cambridge area. Also surviving is his sister Gloria (Frank) Wysocki and three nieces, all of California.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Carl Victor and Agnes Blomquist and two sons, Dallas Richard Blomquist, Jr. and Barry Carl Blomquist, his grandson Christopher (Kip) Blomquist and his sister, Margaret Katz.

Services were held on October 21, 2015 with inurnment at the Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis, South Dakota.