Vernon Arthur Bachand, 70, Sturgis, died Friday, July 6, 2007, at the Sturgis Regional Hospital.

Visitation was at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis.

Funeral services were Tuesday, July 10, 2007, at the Believers Fellowship Church in Sturgis, with Pastor John Williamson officiating. Burial followed at the Bear Butte Cemetery in Sturgis.

A memorial has been established to the Meade County Senior Citizens Center in Sturgis.

Vernon was born July 26, 1936, at Sturgis, to Arthur and Clara "Lola" (Thein) Bachand. He grew up on the family farm and attended rural schools and graduated from Sturgis High School.

He remained on the family farm and married Helen M. Hunt at Vale, on Sept. 8, 1957. They returned to the farm. They lived on the farm where they built a new house in 1969 and raised three children. In 2004, they retired, sold the farm and built a new house in Sturgis.

Vernon was a member of the Meade County Senior Citizens Center and the Golden K Kiwanis Club in Sturgis. He was an avid card player. Besides playing cards with family, he enjoyed going to Deadwood.

Survivors include his son, Leon (Tammy) Bachand, Sturgis; daughter, Rhonda (Ronny) Casteel, Vale; one son-in-law, Tony Bifulco, Hermosa; one brother-in-law, James Crockford, Faith; sisters, Evelyn Beug, Sturgis, Joyce (Lee) Evans, Shelbyville, Tenn., Shirley (Alan) Bain, Spokane, Wash., and Beverly (Ernie) Conners, Richmond, Ky.; grandchildren, Troy and (Kate) Bifulco, Coy and (Annie) Bifulco, Clay and (Leah) Bifulco, Brooke and (Jason) Pickett, Jenna Bachand and Jesse Ranek, McKenzie Bachand, Seth Bachand, Jeremy and (Katie) Casteel, Brenden Casteel, and Amber Casteel; and great-grandchildren, Brekken Pickett, Brinley Pickett, Ella Bifulco, Benjamyn Pickett and Christian Bifulco.

He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Helen; one daughter, Sharon; and two sisters, Dorothy Frazier and Velma Crockford.