Stanley Harvey Wilkinson was born on September 1, 1931 to Harvey and Lydia (Smith) Wilkinson at their homestead along the Big Nasty Creek. Harvey passed away when Stan was five, leaving Lydia a widow to raise her eight young children. They had lost their home place at Glendo during the "Dirty Thirties" due to taxes and inability to pay off a loan. The older children worked away from home to help pay off the debt. In 1939 they moved back to Glendo. Stan remembered walking behind the cows as they were moving back.

As the older children left home, Stan and Harold had to be the "men" of the family even though they were in their early teens. They worked hard, but also knew how to enjoy life. Stan enjoyed playing his guitar and singing with family and friends. In later years he enjoyed getting together with neighbors and holding music parties, and also playing cards.

Stan always worked hard and loved being with is kids and grandkids. Working with animals was a joy to him, and he liked his "John Deere's". Since Stan's health started failing, Jim and his family have pretty much been running the ranch. A trip to Rochester did not give the results Stan had hoped for.

Stan's heart just played out, and he passed away on April 2, 2011.

When he was in his early twenties, Stan bought a truck and hauled gravel for Perkins County until he entered the US Army in 1954. He spent 18 months in Hawaii as a cook, and spent many hours on the beach during time off. Upon returning home in 1956 he went back to hauling gravel. On June 18, 1960 he married Patsy Papka. They lived in an 8x30 trailer home and moved it around to many different graveling jobs. In 1964 they bought the Sam and Alice Steuer place. Stan continued to haul gravel while Patsy and the kids stayed home to tend to the ranch, and Harold helped with the farming. In 1969 they bought the Cliff Stolt place, and that ended the graveling. Cattle and sheep kept them busy at home. Stan enjoyed auction sales and pitching horseshoes.

Survivors include his wife Patsy Wilkinson, Prairie City; son James (Vicki) Wilkinson, Reva; daughters, Tammy (Larry) Eberhard, Belle Fourche; Marilyn (Bill) Steinmeyer, Merriman, NE; grandsons, Kent and Kyle Wilkinson and Chance Steinmeyer; one brother, Harold (Esther) Wilkinson, Frazee, MN; sisters, Violet Krambeer, Buffalo, SD, Bessie Campbell, Mesa, AZ; sister in law, Alice Wilkinson, Buffalo, SD; and numerous nieces, nephews and cousins.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Harvey and Lydia Wilkinson, one brother, Glen Wilkinson, and three sisters, Dorthy Spangler, Lila White and Daisy Wilkinson.

Memorial services will be 2 p.m. Saturday April 9, 2011 at the Reva Hall with Pastor Henry Mohagen officiating.

Memorials have been established to the Slim Buttes Lutheran Church Radio Broadcast Fund and the American Heart Association.