Billye Jo (Davis) Casteel
May 4, 2020
On Monday, May 4, 2020, Billye Jo Casteel, loving wife and mother of three children, passed away after a courageous battle with cancer. Billye Jo was born July 19, 1952, in Sturgis, SD, to Ivan and Gertrude "Sue" Davis. She grew up on a ranch north of Sturgis where her love for horses and ranch life was developed. Billye...
John William Mcneary
Apr 26, 2020
John W. McNeary was born October 29, 1938, in Aberdeen, SD, to Francis and Gertrude (Frank) McNeary. John completed his schooling in Aberdeen, graduating from Aberdeen High School in 1956. John married his first wife, Norma Barker, in 1961, and they had their son, Roy, in 1962. In 1962, John was drafted into the United States Army as a...
Mark Andrew Harwood
Apr 24, 2020
Mark Andrew Harwood, 56, of Lead, SD, was born December 11, 1963 in Rapid City, SD, to parents Boyd and Janet (Olson) Harwood. He passed away from leukemia very peacefully on April 24, 2020. Mark was raised on the family ranch in Haydraw, SD, and graduated Sturgis High School in 1982. Mark was very active in 4-H, FFA, and...
George Edward Keller
Apr 22, 2020
George E. Keller was born March 9, 1931, at Rosebud, SD, to Frank and Olive (Flood) Keller. He grew up in St. Francis and graduated from St. Francis Mission in 1949. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy during the Korean Conflict. Following his honorable discharge in 1955, he enrolled in college at Chadron State Teacher College. During these years,...
Velma Joan (Morrill) Ross Austin
Apr 21, 2020
Velma Joan (Morrill) Ross Austin, 91, died April 21, 2020, in Tacoma, WA due to reoccurring cancer. She was born in Sturgis, South Dakota to Earl and Margaret (Hayes) Morrill. Her father was a district attorney, state senator, mayor and handled the legal paperwork and advice for the start of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rallies. Her mother was...
Allen Preston Melzer Jr.
Apr 21, 2020
Allen P. Melzer, Jr., 68, of Lead, went to heaven.
He is survived by his wife, Linda Kottke; his mom, Ruth Sellers; his sister, Linda Hays and her family and granddaughter Cierra Williams, plus many many other families and friends. Allen was an aviation mechanic, airborne school graduate and served two duties in Vietnam. He was awarded...
Donald Clase "Don" Goff
Apr 20, 2020
Don was born November 28, 1934, at Sturgis, SD, to Clarence and Whipka (Stratemeyer) Goff. He was raised on his dad's ranch at Tepee Creek in eastern Meade County. He loved animals with horses at the top of his list. Don enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in January of 1953. On the way to Korea, out in...
Joyce Marie Knutson
Apr 18, 2020
Joyce Marie Ladson was born May 31, 1929, to Glenn and Amelia Ladson at the farm homestead in Bucyrus, ND, where she was baptized at the church. Joyce was the oldest of twelve children: Lorraine, Norman, Zola, Rodger, Betty, Lloyd, Caroline, Gene, John, Melvin, and Jerry. Joyce is survived by her brother, John. Joyce met "Bud" Arol Knutson at...
Stanley Alexander "Stan" Miner
Apr 18, 2020
Stanley Alexander "Stan" Miner, a long-time resident of Rapid City, SD, left this life with his family at his side on April 18, 2020. Stan was born in Rapid City on September 12, 1929, to parents Vernie E. and Bessie J. Miner. His early years were spent on the family ranch near Elm Springs, SD, but the "Great Depression"...
Jim Orrin Mastin
Apr 18, 2020
James Orrin Mastin went home on April 18, 2020. He was born on August 18, 1940, to Dwight Mastin and Helen (Jones) Mastin, in Kansas City, KS. He moved to Huron, SD, in 1948, where he met Maxine Schaffer. They were married August 3, 1958, and out of this marriage 6 children were born. He joined the Army in...
Peggy Nan Petersen
Apr 14, 2020
Our mother, Peggy Petersen, is free from the debilitating Alzheimer's disease. She passed away peacefully April 14, 2020. She was a vibrant person and lived life to the fullest. Peggy was an avid reader and was paranoid she would read all the books and nothing new would be left. She taught English to students in Lead High School in...
Winfred "Punk" Bauer, Jr.
Apr 14, 2020
Winfred "Punk" Bauer, Jr., of Vale, SD, passed away peacefully on April 14, 2020, at Monument Health Sturgis Lippold Hospice in Sturgis, SD. He was born to Winfred and Florence (Bennefeld) Bauer on July 18, 1938, in Ada, MN. Punk was baptized and confirmed at Pleasant View Lutheran Church in Pleasant Valley Township near Ada, MN. He went on...
Elmer Leach Bryant
Apr 12, 2020
Elmer Leach Bryant was born in Rapid City, SD, on January 5, 1945. He was one of nine children born to Seibert Leach & Edna Ellen (Farnsworth) Bryant. He was raised on the Bryant Ranch on Tilford Road. He attended Piedmont & Sturgis schools and graduated from Sturgis High School in 1964. He grew up working hard and tending...
Harry Richard Dubray, Jr.
Apr 11, 2020
Harry Richard DuBray, Jr., was born July 26, 1960, to Harry Richard DuBray, Sr., and Winona Marie Brandis in Nebraska. Harry grew up in Winner, SD, before moving to Mission, SD, where he attended Todd County high school. Harry loved to paint and draw. He created many stories, art work, and comics, some of which he received awards for...
Ronald Willis Proefrock
Apr 11, 2020
Ronald W. Proefrock, 86, of Nisland, passed away peacefully on Saturday, April 11, 2020, at the Monument Health Hospice House in Rapid City, SD, with his wife, Virginia, and son, Daniel, near him. Ronald was born November 13, 1933, in Hamburg, ND. He was the son of the late Alfred and Lillian (Simonson) Proefrock. He attended grade school at...
Mike James Beck
Apr 3, 2020
Mike was born on January 4, 1949, to James E. and Helen E. Beck in Deadwood, SD. He attended Deadwood Public School and graduated in 1968. As a youngster, Mike spent most of his summer days with his brothers and sisters swimming at the Deadwood City Pool. In high school, Mike received recognition as a football player, which he...
Carol Jean Bruch
Apr 3, 2020
Carol Jean Bruch, 84, Sturgis, died Friday, April 3, 2020, at the Monument Health Sturgis Hospital. She was born April 8, 1935, to Cecil and Ella (Holt) Cammack. She grew up around the Stoneville area where she attended Stoneville School. The kids all had to ride to school in a sleigh during the winter of '49. Carol graduated from...
Oswald Terrence "Terry" Barge
Apr 2, 2020
Oswald Terrence "Terry" Barge was born December 21, 1925, in Ingalls, KS, to J.B. "Doc" Barge and Doris Byrne. Terry passed away, with family by his side, on Thursday, April 2, 2020, in Sturgis, SD. Terry enlisted in the Navy as a Machinist Mate on May 2, 1944. After completing boot camp, Terry received his first assignment;...
Orville Roy Edwards
Apr 2, 2020
Orville Roy Edwards was born August 6, 1935, in Sturgis, SD, and peacefully passed at his home, with family by his side, in Vale, SD, on Thursday, April 2, 2020. Orville was a man among men. He was a role model and a positive voice in a world that can sometimes be so negative. Despite all of the medical...
Howard Lee Reid
Apr 1, 2020
Howard Lee Reid, 75, of Port Washington, WI (formerly of Belle Fourche, SD), passed away on Wednesday, April 1, 2020. Howard was born on May 15, 1944, in Rapid City, SD, to Leslie and Clara (Held) Reid. He was the youngest of 12 children. He grew up and attended school in Newell, SD. He graduated from Black Hills State...
