Ronald Jay Pitts, 74, of Newell, SD, died Thursday, July 22, 2021, at his residence.

Ron was born in Newcastle, WY, on July 17, 1947, to Virgil and Vlasta (Petr) Pitts. He grew up in Gillette Canyon between Newcastle, WY, and Custer, SD, on a ranch in the Black Hills.

Ron went to a country school until the 8 ^th grade that was on the Dewey Road not far from the ranch where he lived. The school was called Lauzon school in Custer County. From there he went to Newcastle for high school that he never did appreciate going too. It was a waste of time according to him because he should have been out shearing Sheep and making money. At the age of 6 or 7 he worked his dads summer range was 33,000-acre pasture in the Black Hills. He would roll some food up in his coat behind his saddle and ride all summer checking water, fences, and cattle. His dad told him if when gathering all the cattle in the fall and they didn't lose any that his dad would buy him a 35-caliber rifle when he sold calves and yearlings and he never lost any and come fall he was a mighty happy little boy with his new rifle. His dad took him to town usually twice a year to buy plenty of ammunition because he loved going hunting any chance he got. At age 12 a neighbor got him started on sheep shearing and later did it on a crew to save his money to buy a ranch.

At 16 years of age Ron bought his first ranch from his grandpa and 25 cows and then later lived there with his new bride, Dorothy Fawcett, married June 8, 1968.

From there Ron and Dorothy ranched there for a year or two then moved to Montana with a new son, Clint, and a year after that a second son was born, Travis. After the family was started Ron and Dorothy bought and sold many ranches selling one to make a little money and get a better one All together, they bought and sold 8-9 ranches. He bought a backhoe and did some backhoe work around the area. During all the times of buying and selling places Ron drove truck starting in the 70's and logged over 4 million miles, 12 trucks, and 40 years before he sold his last truck.

All along the way from age 6 to the age of 73, Ron hunted Deer, Elk, Antelope, Moose, Mountain Goats, etc., for meat. Right up to the last animal harvested. His dad told him at the age of 6, "Cattle are for selling and deer are for eating".

Ronald is survived by his wife, Dorothy (Fawcett) Pitts, Newell, SD; son, Clint (Trisha) Pitts, Vale, SD; daughter-in-law, Lisa Capen, Tallahassee, FL; grandson, Travis "TJ" Pitts, Ft. Walton Beach, FL.

Ronald is preceded in death by his father, Virgil Pitts; mother, Vlasta (Petr) Pitts; brother, Virgil Ray Pitts; son, Travis Ray Pitts.

Memorial services will be 2:00 p.m. on Thursday, July 29, 2021, at Newell Christian Fellowship Church in Newell, SD. Inurment at a later date.

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