David Edward Dickert, 65, Deadwood, died Thursday, December 18, 1008, at his residence.

Visitation will be Friday, December 26th from noon until 7:00 p.m. at Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis.

Funeral services will be held on Saturday, December 27, 2008, at 10:00 a.m. at the First Wesleyan Church in Sturgis with Pastor Dwight Peterson officiating. Burial with military honors provided by the Sturgis Veteran's Honor Guard will be at Black Hills National Cemetery on Friday, January 2, 2009, at 9:30 a.m.

Dave was born September 12, 1943, in Lansing, MI, to Clarence and Evelyn (Roberts) Dickert. He grew up in Lansing. Dave served in the US Air Force from 1961 until his honorable discharge in 1965. He served his last year in Rapid City where he met Jo Etta Heltibridle. They were married on March 14, 1965, in Spearfish.

They returned to Michigan for the next 36 years where Dave worked as a zookeeper and they raised their three children. Dave and Jo returned to the Black Hills in 2001.

Dave worked with the Potter Park Friends and Zoological Society on fund raisers and events. He was active with the teen keeper program and mentored many young students.

He is survived by his wife, Jo Etta Dickert, Deadwood; two sons, David Dickert and Todd (Renee) Dickert, all of Lansing, MI; one daughter, Debbie (Jim) Slater, Lansing, MI; one sister, Kathryn (Bob) Schenk, Grand Ledge, MI; three grandchildren, Zachery, Alysa, and Madison; and five step-grandchildren, Ashleigh, Mark, Brandon, Matthew, and Mariah.

He was preceded in death by his parents.

Memorials have been established to Hospice of the Northern Hills and to CASA.