Elmer Lake Paris, 77, Spearfish, died Saturday, March 23, 2013 at the Rapid City Regional Hospital.

Memorial services will be 10 a.m. Thursday at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis with Pastor Jenene Earl officiating. Inurnment will be at Mt. Lawn cemetery near Lead at a later date.

Elmer was born October 28, 1935 at Laddonia, MO, to E.W. and Fontella (Lake) Paris. He farmed with his grandfather before joining the Army in 1955. While serving his country he met the love of his life and best friend, Fern Potter in Washington, DC. They were married in Laddonia, MO on February 2, 1958. They lived in Laddonia for 14 years with their five children. Elmer was an over the road truck driver. They moved to Lead, SD in 1972 where he worked a short time in the woods, hauled bentonite to Colony, WY and drove for Black Hills Pack. In 1980 he started working for Homestake Mining Company as a hoist operator. He moved to Spearfish and retired in 1996. He went back to driving trucks until a car accident in December of 2005.

He enjoyed camping, hunting, motorcycle riding, going to coffee with friends and being a Grandpa. His grandchildren were the light of his life. He was remembered as a Big Teddy Bear with a big heart and a sense of humor.

He was a member of Golden Star Masonic Lodge #9 A.F. and A.M., and a member of a coffee club at the Millstone Restaurant and Perkins in Spearfish.

Survivors include his daughter, Effie (Randy) Oyler, Apache Junction, AZ; son, Deck Paris, Spearfish, SD; grandchildren, Nicole (Tyler) Oyler-Eble, Ashlyn Oyler, Randall (Donna) Oyler, Stephanie Oyler, all of Arizona; Natasha and Joshua Paris, Spearfish; three great grandchildren, Asher Helsel, Jackson and Mackenna Eble, all of Arizona; sister in law, Elaine Buchholz, Stanton, ND, sister in law, Marcella (Wilbur) Potter, Rapid City, SD, and many nieces and nephews; very special friends, Jonny Summers, Heliena Schaub, Cindy Kursey, Gary Richards and Linda, along with many good friends he made throughout the years.

He was preceded in death by one daughter, Philinda, two sons, Elmer Jr. and Loren, his grandparents, Deck and Effie Lake, his mother, Fontella Williams, sister Jane, daughter in law, Laval Paris and his beloved wife Fern. He will be missed by his family and friends.

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