Mike O'Connor, 60, died on Friday, January 24, 2014, at his residence.

Memorial services will be held at 10:00am on Thursday, January 30, 2014, at Kinkade Funeral Chapel with Pastor Harold Delbridge officiating. Burial will follow at Bear Butte Cemetery.

Mike was born to Wayne and Fern O'Connor at St. John's Hospital in Rapid City, SD on July 1, 1953. He started grade school in Sturgis followed by schooling in Brookings, Sioux Falls, Sioux City due to moving because of his father's work. He moved back to Sturgis with his family in 1969, where he graduated from Brown High School in 1971. His academic success in high school awarded him a full ride ROTC scholarship to the School of Mines and Technology. While in high school, he started working at Sooper Dooper and continued to work there for many years following graduation. While working at Sooper Dooper he was promoted to assistant manager of the store, and later manager of the meat department. While in college, he began buying and fixing up cars. After he no longer worked at Sooper Dooper, this passion for cars turned into a career when he began working at Denker's Body Shop and then Walt's Body Shop until its closure. At that time, he continued to take pride in his independent auto body work until his death and enjoying Nascar. While working, Mike became an excellent, self-taught wood craftsman. Several of his many creations include bedroom and living room furniture, benches, and an elaborate glass china hutch for his mother-in-law. When his parents remodeled their kitchen and dining room, he was instrumental in the design and construction of the cabinets and furniture. He also had a love for guns where he received several trophies in competitive silhouette shooting. In his most recent years, he could be found tinkering in his garage during his spare time. He was someone who could be called on to do most anything, a true "jack of all trades."

He married Debbie Chihak in 1972 and they had 2 daughters. In 1985, he married Valerie Salathe, and 2 daughters were born from this union.

He is survived by his wife, Valerie and 3 daughters Teri (Tom) Eddings of Box Elder, Shauna O'Connor of Rapid City, Tara (Cory) VanWye of Goodyear, AZ, and 4 grandchildren. He is also survived by his mother, Fern O'Connor of Sturgis, brother Jerry (Renea) O'Connor and family of Gillette, WY, and sister Peggy (Joe) O'Connor and family of Sturgis.

He is preceded in death by his grandparents, father, and 1 daughter.

A memorial scholarship has been established.