Justin Charles Schiferl was born in Sioux Falls, South Dakota on December 5, 1981 to Jerome and Sheryl Schiferl.  He was raised in Lennox until he was a teenager when the family moved to the Kadoka area.  In 1998, at just 17 years old he joined the South Dakota National Guard.  Following his entry, in the year 2000, he graduated from Kadoka, South Dakota.

Justin met the love of his life, Patricia (Tricia) Merchen, in May of 2007.  In late 2008, Justin and Tricia welcomed their daughter Grace E. Schiferl.  Justin and Tricia married on December 27th of 2009.  In late 2013, the couple welcomed their second child, a son, named Cody J. Schiferl.

He was involved in the Black Hills Threshing Bee in which he wore numerous hats.  He was also a part of the Green Mountain Tractor Pullers where he was known for his Case, Farmall W9, and Farmall M; earning him bragging rights on multiple occasions.  For those who knew him he was always working on a project, many a time being an impromptu mechanic.  Him and his kids created Shifty Speedshop on YouTube where they filmed their trials and tribulations in an attempt to move toward a goal of fixing up hotrods.

He spent a lot of time at the ranches of family and friends, helping with cattle, tractors, vehicles and anything that needed done.  He was also a machinist that could create anything out of metal.  It was very rare that there would be a moment you would see him sit down.

Sergeant First Class Schiferl was a Combat Medic, with over 25 total years of service. He was a South Dakota Army National Guardsman with 20 years of Active Duty service and over 5 Years of M-Day service.   He served a variety of roles to include: Medical Readiness NCO, Readiness NCO, Platoon Sergeant, Section Sergeant, 15D Aircraft Power Train Repairer, Recruiting Team Leader, a 15T Blackhawk Repairer and Crew Chief, and a 68W Combat Medic. He had been Active Guard Reserve (AGR) since 2010.  He had deployed to Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq and Kuwait in various positions.

SFC Schiferl had been awarded for achieving the top academic and overall performance in every MOS Producing School and every Non-Commissioned Officer Education Course he had attended; thus, being awarded Distinguished Graduate and Honor Graduate at all courses attended throughout his career.  He had received multiple awards to include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal 2 oak leaf clusters, Army Achievement Medal 2 oak leaf clusters, and Army Aviation Crewman Badge among many others.

Before his retirement on October 27, 2024, SFC Schiferl served as the Medical Readiness NCO for the Office of the State Surgeon for the South Dakota Army National Guard in Rapid City, South Dakota.

Justin passed away on October 29, 2025 in Rapid City, South Dakota after a 6-year battle with cancer.  He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, Robert (Bob) and Phyllis (Metcalf) Koepke; paternal grandparents, Leo and Lillian (Haugen) Schiferl; father Jerome Schiferl; brothers, Chad (1973) and twin Jamie (1981); uncle Marvin Schiferl; great uncle Duane Lucht; and close family friend Penny Williams.

Justin is survived by his wife Tricia (Patricia) Schiferl of Rapid City, SD; children, Grace and Cody Schiferl; brothers, Jared (Keely) Schiferl of Rapid City, SD and Jesse (Keri) Schiferl of Hazen, ND; mother Sheryl Schiferl of Huron, SD; sister Stacy (Gary) Langbehn of Huron, SD; in-laws Ralph and Susan (Miller) Merchen of Custer, SD; sisters-in-law, Angie Svoboda of Spearfish, SD and Krystal (Jackson) Cunningham of Hot Springs, SD; brother-in-law Jered (Dee) Merchen of Osage, WY; nieces and nephews, Kayo Dickey, Trey Svoboda, Melissa Wermers, Sean and Wade Merchen, Levi, Robert, and Tailor Cunningham, Jackston and Kyrik Schiferl; bonus family, Deanne Williams, Keith (Patricia) Weyrich, Chris (Vera) Grubl, Adam (Karly) Grubl, Lucas (Kimber) Grubl, Teri Ewoniuk, Michael Luze, and Robert (Heidi) Hanson; and all of his SDNG family.

Funeral services will be held on Thursday, November 6, 2025 at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Sturgis, SD beginning at 10:00 am with a visitation the day prior on Wednesday, November 5, 2025 from 5-7 pm. Burial will take place on November 6, 2025 at 12:30 pm at Black Hills National Cemetery.

In honor of Justin, a memorial for Grace and Cody's college fund has been set up at Black Hills Federal Credit Union under 'Justin Schiferl Memorial'.

Justin Schiferl Folder