Long-time Butte County dairyman has milked his last cow and gone on to the heavenly pasture. Paul James Lewis passed away on February 10, 2023, at Monument Health Rapid City Hospital surrounded by loved ones.

Paul was born November 21, 1943, on the family farm near Newell to James and Clara (Dell) Lewis, the fourth of the couples' eleven children. He would reside in Butte County for the next seventy-nine years, two months, and twenty days.

From an early age, Paul was interested in animals and assisting with farm chores. He worked on various dairy farms, including the family's, from the age four or five until retiring in 2008. Over his sixty-plus-year career, he milked herds as small as eight and as large as two-hundred-fifty plus. He would also raise hogs and sheep, in addition to farming. As a youth, Paul loved his pony and would take any chance to ride it, even to the outhouse.

Paul attended school in both Newell and Vale. During an accident with his pony, he severely cut his neck. This injury caused him to miss many days of school and he had to repeat the first grade. Despite this setback, he graduated from Vale High School in 1962.

He was an active Beetdigger as part of the football, basketball, and track teams. Paul lettered in basketball and track and represented Vale at the state track meet in the mile. He played tuba and bass horn in the marching band. He was the lead in the school play "Cradle Troubadour," which also featured his baby nephew Todd Koan.  He was a Future Farmer of America member, participating in crop planning, range judging, and animal judging. He would use his animal judging skills to pick the Kentucky Derby winner more years than not, often betting chores with his sibling or children.

On August 12, 1967, Paul married Diana Verry. They lived in Belle Fourche and Nisland before returning to the family farm in Newell. Born to the couple were four children. He taught all of them to drive, including how to pull trailers and the dreaded parallel parking.

Paul was an avid sports fan throughout his life. He played community basketball, baseball, and softball. He later coached community and youth teams for baseball, softball, basketball, football, and soccer. He was a booster for Newell athletics, even after his children had graduated, cheering on cousins, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, and great nephews, and anyone in maroon and white.

Paul was baptized in 1973. "The Battle Hymn of the Republic" was often heard in the barn as he loved to sing if the radio wasn't playing. His musical preferences ranged across multiple genres, but leaned towards songs to which he could dance.

Paul was struck by lightning three times in his life, a one-in-twenty-seven-million occurrence. Despite beating these odds, he never won the lottery. However, he was lucky at games of chance like Yahtzee, which he played daily the last few months of his life. Friends will remember Paul for his card playing skills, and his claim the Nine of Spades was the ugliest card in the deck.

In his later years, Paul enjoyed driving around to check on the neighbor's livestock and crops. During the winter, the drives changed to deer and antelope spotting expeditions. He also enjoyed finding the best holiday light displays.

Paul is survived by his wife, Diana; daughters, Fonda, Wendy, and Ashley Lewis, all of Newell; his son, Bradley and daughter-in-law, Jennifer of Loveland, Colorado; grandchildren, Danette and Spencer Bradford of Pueblo West, Colorado, and Abigail and Eli Ethridge of Fort Collins, Colorado; great-granddaughter, Sadie Bradford; eight siblings, Ellen Koan, Amelia Forde, Lottie Lindall, Bonnie Lewis-Noble, William, Benjamin, Edward, and Adam Lewis; a herd of nieces, nephews, great-nieces and great-nephews; and a gaggle of friends.

Welcoming Paul home are his parents, James and Clara Lewis; brother, Louie Thomas Lewis; sister, Clara Rose Buttram, grandparents, and numerous beloved aunts, uncles, cousins, nieces, and nephews.

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