James A. Eatherton, 92, of Sturgis and formerly, Whitewood, died peacefully at home Sunday, September 1, 2019, after attending church. His wife of 68 years, Marian J. Eatherton, preceded him in death in January. He is survived by three daughters, Laurie Warfel (Yankton), Debra Leonard (Arlington, VA), and Gwen Brandfass (Sedona, AZ); and three grandchildren.
Jim retired in 1982 after a 30-year career with the Ft. Meade VA Medical Center Fire Department. He and his brother, Bob, worked together on Bob's ranch in Whitewood Valley until it was sold in 1990. Jim volunteered as a firefighter with the Whitewood Volunteer Fire Department. He and Marian left the Whitewood home they built together on property adjacent to the house where Jim grew up, and moved to Sturgis in 2015. They were members of Whitewood and Sturgis First Presbyterian Churches, where Jim served as an Elder for many years.
The youngest of Fred G. and Anna Mae (neé Lubbers) Eatherton's children, Jim is preceded in death by his siblings, Vernon, Ray, Harold, Robert, William, and Eva (Peak).
He was a veteran of WWII, enlisting in the U.S. Navy in October, 1944, and serving as a Gunner's Mate 3rd Class aboard the destroyer USS Rowan, which was en route to Japan when VJ Day was declared. He was discharged in 1946.
Jim was passionate about his garden and maintaining his yard. He was a keen observer of weather and loved playing Cribbage and Pinochle with his friends, daughters, sons-in-law, and grandchildren.
Memorial services will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, September 11, 2019, at First Presbyterian Church in Sturgis with Reverend Paul Henschen and Reverend David Brandfass officiating. Committal services with military honors will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.
Memorial donations may be made in Jim's memory to the Whitewood Volunteer Fire Department.

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