John Terrence Hughes, 82, of Sturgis, South Dakota, passed away on March 24, 2022, at Monument Health Hospital in Sturgis.  Known as "John T." by many, he was born on March 9, 1940, in Pierre, South Dakota to Glenn and Mildred (Donahue) Hughes.  He grew up on the family farm north of Pierre and attended Sully County rural schools and high school in Fort Pierre.

John attended Northern State Teacher's College in Aberdeen, South Dakota, where he met and fell in love with Judith Anne Radel.  John and Judy were married August 11, 1962, in Parkston, South Dakota, immediately after which John served a 2-year stint in the U.S. Army.  After discharge from the Army, John and Judy settled in Pine Ridge, South Dakota, where John worked as a caseworker for the South Dakota State Welfare Department and Bureau of Indian Affairs and Judy taught high school English.  During this time John and Judy brought Stacy Frances (October 17, 1965) and John Patrick (December 9, 1969) into the world.  In 1970, John entered law school at the University of South Dakota, graduating in 1973.  John and his family settled in Sturgis, where he became Deputy State's Attorney working with Bill Coacher.  In 1975 John joined the Morman Law Firm, where he practiced until his retirement in 2011.  John loved the law profession, and he always took up for the "little guy" and enjoyed mentoring young attorneys.

John enjoyed playing guitar, riding and racing motorcycles, skiing, and especially bird hunting.  The family farm was the scene of many goose and pheasant hunts with friends and co-workers, and many treasured memories were made over the course of several hunting seasons.  John was a member of St. Thomas Episcopal Church, Olive Branch Lodge #47 A.F. & A.M, Black Hills Scottish Rite, and the Naja Shrine Temple.  He was a 33° Mason and was dedicated to the principles of Freemasonry.  An ardent supporter of motorcycling, John served as the president of the Black Hills Motor Classic and was a lifetime member of the Jackpine Gypsies Motorcycle Club.  John also served on the Black Hills Special Services Human Rights Committee and the Sturgis Volunteer Honor Guard and participated in many funerals held at Black Hills National Cemetery.

More than anything, John loved people.  He was energized in social settings, and often held forth with stories and impersonations of friends and family members, many of whom he gave his own special nicknames.  John always supported his family and friends in their endeavors and was a gentle and supportive counselor during trying times.  He will be missed by many for his humor and kindness, and for his genuine love of people.

John is survived by his wife Judy of Sturgis; and his son, John Pat (Mary Alice) of Wellington, Colorado.

He was preceded in death by his parents and his daughter Stacy.

If desired, memorials may be made to a charity of your choice in memory of John T. Hughes.

Memorial services will be 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, March 30, 2022, at St. Thomas Episcopal Church in Sturgis. Committal services will follow at Bear Butte Cemetery in Sturgis with military honors.

Click on the link to view service folder