Oren William "Butch" Soward, 62, Nisland, died Monday, November 10, 2008 at the Rapid City Regional Hospital with family and friends by his side.

Visitation will be noon until 9 p.m. on Friday at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel.

Funeral services will be 10:30 a.m. Saturday November 15, 2008 at the First Lutheran Church in Newell with Rev. Harlan Robbins officiating. Burial follows at the Pine Slope Cemetery in Belle Fourche.

In lieu of flowers the family has established a memorial to a local cancer fund.

Butch was born July 16, 1946 at Aberdeen, SD, to David Henry and Mary Irene (Allbee) Soward.

Butch was a truck driver, carpenter, contractor for underground utilities, farmer and rancher. He loved the outdoors and worked hard all of his life. He also served in the U.S. Army.

He leaves behind his beloved companion, Deanna Schuldies, Nisland; daughter, Paula Dorris, Huron, SD; son, Oren Soward Jr. and his wife Cindy, Chippewa Falls, WI, son Kevin Soward, Huron, son Jason Mealitz, Milbank; daughter, Ja'net Persche and her husband Trent, Belle Fourche, daughter, Tiffany Mealitz, Milbank; son Micky Soward and his fianc?e Tiffany Vlcek, Rapid City; daughter, Kittie Cleveland and her husband Joe, Wolsey, SD; also nine grandchildren.

Survivors also include his sisters, Marlene Wilcox and her husband James, Rapid City, Helen Hindi and her husband Jack, Montrose, CO, Pat Sweeney and her husband John, Spearfish; aunts, Sally Albee, Roscoe, SD, Dorothy Hall, Newhall, CA, Rose Duvall, North Bend, OR; uncle Bill Allbee and his wife Marg, Aberdeen; several nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, five uncles, two aunts, two nephews and one niece.

They have him again and welcomed him with open arms. We here on earth will miss him until it's our turn to fly home.