Ira R. Bayless, 74, died Tuesday, September 15, 2015, at the home of his sister, Janet, in Sturgis.

Funeral services will be held at 10:00 a.m. Monday, September 21, 2015, at the Congregational Church in Eagle Butte with Rev. Mark Richardson officiating. Burial will follow at the Eagle Butte Cemetery.

Visitation will be one hour prior to services at the church on Monday.

Ira was born August 17, 1941, at Eagle Butte, SD, to Ray and Ingeborg (Moland) Bayless. He resided and worked in Eagle Butte all of his life until becoming ill and needing more medical attention. He moved to Sturgis in August, 2015, and lived there until the time of his death.

As a young boy, he enjoyed spending summers at the Curtis ranch north of Eagle Butte, where he helped with the daily ranch work and also enjoyed his Aunt Borghild's delicious cooking.

In 1965, he married Merle Rave. To this union, two children, Eileen and Royce, were born.

Ira worked at Moland Auto Repair, drove a bread truck for Old Home Bakery and was manager of Thompson Drug in Eagle Butte. The last 15 years of his working career were spent at the Eagle Butte Coop overseeing and working in the repair department, retiring in 2012.

Ira loved to fix and restore vehicles. His restoration projects included a Chevy pickup, Jeep, and a 56 Chevy Belair. He was also a very dedicated Vikings football fan.

Survivors include his daughter, Eileen Bayless and son, Royce Bayless, both of Eagle Butte; sisters, Janet Bayless and Eileen Malcolm, both of Sturgis; one niece, Corena Carmichael; three nephews, Audey Anderson, A.C. Simons, and Kolt Simons; as well as numerous cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, and a nephew, J.R. Anderson.

A memorial has been established to the Emmanuel Lutheran Church in Eagle Butte.