Wayne S. Conklin, 80, Spearfish, South Dakota, passed away on Saturday, June 8, 2024, at Spearfish Canyon Healthcare after a long battle with Alzheimer's.

Wayne Stephen Conklin was born May 13, 1944, in Belle Fourche, SD, to Oscar Conklin & Margaret Mahoney Conklin.

After military service, his dad's work in the timber industry had them living in the mountainous areas of Wyoming.  Hulett, Meeteetse, Jackson, Wilson and Buffalo were a few of the communities in which they lived.  Wayne played football throughout his high school years - graduating from Hulett High School in 1962.  Go Red Devils!   He attended the University of Wyoming.  During his teenage years and into his 20's, he worked for his dad.  Later, in the uranium mine at Carlile, WY; road construction in the Black Hills, the Absaroka Range, Laramie Range and the Big Horn Mountains.  In 1970, Wayne was employed by Black Hills Trucking; first as a truck driver, then trouble shooter and supervisor staying with the company for 30 years.  During this time, he lived in Newcastle, WY; Roundup, Montana; Watford City, North Dakota; Vernal, Utah; Grand Junction and Fruita, Colorado; and many other places too numerous to mention.  He moved to Spearfish, SD in the summer of 2000.

Wayne enjoyed the outdoors, fishing and hunting.  He talked about moving to Alaska – he travelled there on several occasions and loved that part of our country.

Wayne is survived by his brother, Jeff Conklin and his wife Tina of Newcastle, WY; his sister-in-law, Darcy Conklin of Sinclair, WY; nephews, Brian Conklin and Sean Conklin; and nieces, Tara Conklin and Cory Randleman.

Wayne was predeceased by his parents, Oscar in 1996 and Margaret in 2015; one brother, Vaughn Conklin in 2018.

Graveside services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, June 17, 2024, at the cemetery at Alva, Wyoming.

A heart felt thank you to Mr. & Mrs. Randy Haynes for their friendship and extra special care and kindness; especially during the last few years when Wayne's health was declining.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests a donation in Wayne's name made to Spearfish Canyon Healthcare in Spearfish, SD.

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