Ricky Lynn Niederwerder, 47, Garland, TX, died of a brain tumor on Monday, October 27, 2008, at Rapid City Hospice House.

Visitation will be Thursday from noon until 8:00 p.m. at Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis. Visitation resumes on Friday at 8 a.m. with a family prayer service on Friday Oct. 31st at 7:00 p.m. at Kinkade Funeral Chapel.

Funeral services will be held at the First Assembly of God Church in Rapid City on Saturday, November 1, 2008, at 1:00 p.m., with Pastors Harold Delbridge, Tim Stuen, and David Hilton officiating. Burial will follow at Pine Lawn Cemetery.

Ricky was born December 4, 1960, in Sturgis to Ernest and Nona (Harris) Niederwerder. He grew up at Hereford, SD, and graduated from Sturgis High School in 1979. He attended Western Dakota Vo-Tech and graduated with a degree in Business Management. Ricky worked for Hild and Spring of Union Center and Sturgis Feed and Seed. He worked in Gillette, WY in the Oil Fields before the bust in the 80's. He returned to South Dakota where he worked at Merrilot and Perdue Manufacturing. In 1995, he moved to Orchard, TX, where he worked for Southern Rodeos as a Marketing Director. In 2000, he was instrumental in establishing the National Professional Bull Riders Association where he held the position of Business and Marketing Manager. Since 2006, in addition to the NPBR he was the Special Events Coordinator for the Resistol Hat Company.

Through his associations in the sports of Rodeo and Bull Riding, Ricky made many friends across the entire country, and was widely respected for his dedication and professionalism. After Ricky accepted Jesus as his Lord and Savior, he touched a lot of lives and led many to a personal relationship with Jesus Christ.

Survivors include his five brothers, Gerald (Michaela) of New Underwood, Greg (Eileen) of Rapid City, Rodney (Jane) of Salina, KS, Roger (Marilu) of Sturgis, and Galen (Donna) of New Underwood; three sisters, Nancy (Grant) Simons of White Owl, Melody (Ross) Boydston of Gordon, NE, and Kim McMillan of Rapid City; fianc?e, Donna Thibodeaux of Garland, TX; numerous nieces and nephews; and numerous great-nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and grandparents.

A memorial has been established.