Maurice Stambaugh, 87, died Tuesday, May 4, 2010, at the Belle Fourche Regional Senior Care Center in Belle Fourche.

Visitation will be Friday, May 7th, from 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. with the family present from 6 pm. until 8 p.m., at Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis.

Funeral services will be held Saturday, May 8, 2010, at 9:00 a.m. at Grace Lutheran Church in Sturgis with Pastor Jeff Otterman officiating. Burial will be at 12:30 p.m. at Pine Lawn Cemetery in Rapid City.

This is the story of Maurice's life in his words: "I was born June 1, 1922, at Saco, MT, to Wilbert F. and Florence D. Stambaugh. My parents homesteaded in the Saco area about 1919 to 1924, the homestead was sold and we moved to Minnesota. As my parents were renting farms, it meant a lot of moves - eight times in my 12 years of school. I graduated from Alberta High School (MN) in 1941. In the fall of 1941, I went to NYA school (trade school). When WWII broke out, the government sent some of us metal students out to the Bremerton Navy Yard to work. I left the Navy yeard and joined the Navy, September 16, 1942. The Navy must have thought I was a dumb country boy, as they sent me to school (welding and deep sea diving) for a year, before sending me to sea. Spent the rest of the war out in the Pacific, on various ships and stations.

When the war was over, I got to come home for a long leave. This was when I met the love of my life, Claire Wendelken. We were married August 6, 1947. We came to Belle Fourche when I was discharged in 1948.

Claire's folks talked us into staying. I worked at the Belle Fourche Implement Company for a year. Then I went into the Grade A dairy business with Claire's dad and brother, Jim. In 1953, we bought our own run-down dairy farm north of Nisland. This was a lot of long days and hard work for everyone. This venture was very successful, thanks to my family for all of the help. When we sold out in February, 1971, we had one of the best dairy herds and farms in Western South Dakota.

We moved to Rapid City after selling the farm. I went into the real estate business. I retired in 1991. After that, I did a lot of volunteer work - Senior Center, Hospice, etc.

Although there were some difficult times along the way, the good Lord has been very kind to me, blessing me with my family - my wife, Claire, my children, Sharon, Gerry, John, Randy, and Brian, and of course, the grandkids. How fortunate could anyone be! I must mention my mother for the trying times she must have had keeping all of us kids fed and a roof over our heads. I shall be forever grateful to my mother for keeping us all together."

Maurice was a member of the Elks, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Canyon Lake Senior Citizen's Center, the Garden Club, Retired and Senior Volunteer Program, and was a member of the Hospice of the Hills team. He also was of member of Big Bend Presbyterian Church in Rapid City and had served as a Deacon. He enjoyed trout fishing and vegetable gardening.

Survivors include his wife, Claire (Wendelken) Stambaugh of Belle Fourche; daughters, Sharon (Steven) Bostic of Mesa, AZ, and Gerry (Ray) Dockter of Baldwin, ND; and sons, John (Robin) Stambaugh of Rapid City, Randy (Kaye) Stambaugh of San Diego, CA, and Brian (Linda) Stambaugh of Newell, SD. Maurice is also survived by his ten grandchildren, Stacy Camp, Melissa Mayne, Anna (Nicki) Levy, Jeni Stambaugh, Justin Stambaugh, Heather Baez, Danny Stambaugh, Claire Stambaugh, Leah Stambaugh, and Emily Stambaugh; twelve great-grandchildren; two brothers, Bill Stambaugh, Spearfish, and Art Stambaugh, St. Cloud, MN; and five sisters, Millie Jarski, St. Louis Park, MN, Clara Mae Sider, Chanhassen, MN, Dorothy James, Victoria, MN, Ruth Halpert, Surprise, AZ, and Elva Tussey, Chanhassen, MN.

He was preceded in death by his parents; three brothers, George, Wilbert (Stan), and Archie; and one sister, Marian.

Memorials have been established to the Alzheimer's Foundation and to the Canyon Lake Senior Center.