Beatrice J. Boice
SPEARFISH — Beatrice J. Boice, 80, Spearfish, died Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2009, at Rapid City Regional Hospital.
Beatrice was born March 3, 1929, in Lead to Harry G. and Edna A. (Tyler) Baker.
In 1937, the family moved to Spearfish where she attended school and graduated from Spearfish High School in 1947.
Beatrice married Clifford C. Boice on May 11, 1947. Following their marriage they lived in various towns throughout the Northern Hills until 1974, when she moved to Spearfish where she has lived since. For many years Beatrice cared for children in her home.
She is survived by three sons, Philip A. (Diane) Boice, Sheridan, Wyo., Jeffrey C. Boice (Cherilyn) Bloomington, N.M., and Michael C. (Leesa), Knoxville, Tenn.; her daughter, Sue (Bill) Boykin, Bossier City, La.; nine grandchildren; one great-grandchild; her Brother, Harold Baker, Rapid City; and her sister, Helen (Joneil) Olds, Centennial, Colo.
Her parents preceded her in death.
At her request cremation has taken place and there will be no services.
A memorial has been established to Lookout Memorial Hospital, Pediatric Ward.
The Aldinger Funeral Home & Cremation Service has been entrusted with the arrangements. Condolences may be left at www.aldingerfuneralhome.com.
Coquelle ‘Coke’ Gene Bowker
AZLE, TEXAS — Coquelle ‘Coke’ Gene Bowker, 74, Azle, Texas, and formerly of the Eagle Butte, S.D., and Dupree, S.D., area, died Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009, at Arlington Memorial Hospital in Arlington.
Services were held Saturday, Nov. 14, at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Eagle Butte.
Burial was at Buffalo Cemetery, near Cherry Creek, S.D., under the direction of Kesling Funeral Home in Mobridge, S.D.
Gladys Hayes Boyer
STURGIS — Gladys Hayes Boyer, 89, Sturgis, died Friday, Nov. 13, 2009, at the Sturgis Regional Senior Care Center.
Visitation will be noon until 9 p.m., Monday, Nov. 16, at the Kinkade Funeral Chapel in Sturgis.
Funeral services will be 2 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, at the First Wesleyan Church in Sturgis, with Pastor Dwight Peterson officiating.
Burial follows at the Bear Butte Cemetery in Sturgis.
Gladys was born Feb. 23, 1920, at White Owl, S.D, to Clyde Wilford and Mildred Yvonne (Fellingham) Weyer. At the age of nine her mother died and she moved to Sturgis and was raised by Herman and Janette Hartl.
While living in Sturgis she met and married Joe Hayes and had five children. Gladys worked at the Ben Franklin for many years and later for McKay Drug Store.
In 1992 she married Bob Boyer.
Gladys loved making quilts and many crafts for her family. She also loved going to the Meade County Senior Center to sew, play cards, dance and enjoy her many friends.
A memorial has been established to the Meade County Senior Center.
Survivors include her husband, Bob Boyer, Sturgis; son Bill (Judy) Hayes, Sheridan, Wyo.; daughters, Carolyn Tippey, Whitewood, Marlene (John) Lewton, Sturgis, Darlene Daniels, Belle Fourche, Nancy (Steve) Bauer, Fargo, N.D.; also 12 grandchildren, 20 great-grandchildren and one great-great grandchild.
She was preceded in death by her parents, her first husband, Joe Hayes, three brothers, Merle, Elmer, and Homer Weyer, two son-in-laws, Joe Daniels and Lyle Tippey, seven grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Condolences may be sent to the family at www.kinkadefunerals.com.
John E. Brick
RAPID CITY — John E. Brick, 84, Rapid City, died Friday, Nov. 13, 2009, at the Rapid City Hospice House.
John was born on April 29, 1925, in rural Aberdeen, S.D., to August and Elenora (Kushman) Brick. He attended country school in Aberdeen. John enlisted in the United States Army and served from 1943 to 1946. He married Irene Lange in Wecota, S.D., on June 6, 1948. They moved to Rapid City where he worked as a purchasing agent for Mid Western Home from 1953 to 1990.
John was a member of Peace Lutheran Church and the VFW. He enjoyed traveling, sight seeing, touring the hills, camping and hiking.
John loved the outdoors, especially gardening, yard work and gathering wood for the fireplace.
He is survived by his wife Irene Brick of Rapid City; a daughter, Enola “Edie” Gorham-Smith and her husband Patrick, Centennial, Colo.; four grandchildren; five stepgrandchildren, one great-grandchild and two stepgreat-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a daughter Margo Fox; one brother, Earl; and four sisters, Irna, Esther, Pearl and Mabel.
A visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7p.m. on Monday, Nov. 16, at Kirk Funeral Home in Rapid City.
Services will be at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 17, at Peace Lutheran Church, 219 E. St. Anne Street, Rapid City with Rev. Dave Lindenberg officiating. Burial, with full military honors, will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery, near Sturgis.
Family and friends may sign John’s online guest book at www.kirkfuneralhome.com.
George Cummings
GORDON, Neb. — George Cummings, 69, Gordon, died Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009, at Rapid City Regional Hospital.
Survivors include his wife, Charlotte, Gordon.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, at the Gordon American Legion, with the Rev. Jon Baker officiating. Burial, with military honors, will be at Gordon Cemetery.
A memorial has been established for the Marine Corps Christmas program Toys for Tots, in care of Chamberlain-Pier Funeral Home in Gordon.
Rosalinda ‘Linda’ Dougherty
RAPID CITY — Rosalinda “Linda” Dougherty, 62, Rapid City, died Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009, at the Rapid City Regional Hospice House.
Linda was born July 24, 1947 in Manila, Philippines to Patrick and Luisa (Oliva) Fahey.
She grew up attending school in Sturgis, Spearfish and Vale, graduating from St. Martins Academy in Sturgis. Through the help from Dr. Casey, Linda attended and graduated from USD in Vermillion with an Associates of Arts in Dental Hygiene.
She met Thomas Dougherty while they were attending college and were married Jan. 20, 1972, in Vermillion.
They returned to Rapid City where Linda worked for Dr. Casey until his retirement, then for Dr. Weaver for 25 years until he retired for a total of 37 years.
Linda’s life was her family. Linda was blessed with three children and four grandchildren. She rarely missed a soccer game, school program or concert. She loved to volunteer her time towards family, children and community. Linda was a founding member of the “Soccer Moms” in Rapid City. She enjoyed activities such as reading, music, walking, swimming, soccer, kayaking, picnics and camping. Family time was always a cherished moment. Linda was a master planner for all family activities. She loved to plan, bake, cook and provide her love to all. She loved to take her grandchildren to Storybook Island, the park, the pool or the lake; she took every chance she had to make sure her loved ones around her were surrounded by love.
Survivors include her husband of thirty-eight years, Tom Dougherty, Rapid City; her son, Brian Dougherty and his wife Laurie, Rapid City; two daughters, Susan Rodriguez and her husband, Jose, Portland, Ore. and Lindsey Dougherty and her fiance, Cole Baker, Paso Robles, Calif. She was treasured by four grandchildren, Soren, Denali, Arianna and Cyrus; her parents, Patrick and Lucy Fahey, Rapid City; three brothers, Bob Fahey and Mike Fahey, Oahu, Hawaii, and Jim Fahey, Rapid City; three sisters, Mary McCambridge and Trisha Fahey, Rapid City, Suzanne Cox and her husband, Bob, Las Vegas. Linda was also loved and survived by numerous nieces, nephews and friends.
A Celebration of Life Memorial Service will be held 2 p.m., Monday, Nov. 16, at Edstrom & Rooks Funeral Services at Serenity Springs, Chapel of Tranquility with Pastor Donnie Williams officiating.
In lieu of flowers, the family has established a memorial to Storybook Island and the Rapid City Regional Hospice House.
Friends may sign her online register and offer condolences at www.serenityspringsfuneralchapel.com.
James Alois Friedel
FRUITDALE — James Alois Friedel, 77, Fruitdale, died Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009, at Sturgis Regional Senior Care.
James was born July 3, 1932, in Arlington to C.A. “Mike” and Abbie (Coy) Friedel. The family moved to Wolsey where James attended school. James worked as a fry cook in Pierre for a short time before joining the U.S. Navy, serving near Korea. Following his honorable discharge in New London, Conn., James returned to Newell where his parents were. He worked for the implement company, Hedrick Sales.
James married Audrey Bentz Aug. 6, 1955, at the family farm in Nisland. He worked for a seismograph crew in Wyoming before they settled in Nisland.
James worked for his father-in-law, John Bentz Sr., in Arpan helping to establish a new farm. James then became employed by Turbiville Electric in Belle Fourche where they lived for three years. Later, he started a motor winding shop. 1960 saw a move to the farm in Arpan where they lived and farmed until 1989. James retired and they moved to Spearfish for one year until they settled in Fruitdale where they have lived since. James did maintenance work at the Belle Fourche Rec Center for 10 years.
Jim enjoyed gardening, wild asparagus picking, and “tinkering” on projects. James attended First Lutheran Church in Newell and was a member of the Nisland American Legion.
He is survived by his wife, Audrey Friedel, Nisland; two sons, Daniel (Idamae) Friedel, Belle Fourche, and Dean (Shari) Friedel, Grant, Neb.; two daughters, Rose Anne (Joseph) Sulzbach, Gillette, Wyo., and Karen (Jimmy) Jensen, Nisland; nine grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and two sisters, Mildred Vasknetz and Margery Bunney, both of Spearfish.
He was preceded in death by his parents and one brother, Richard.
Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, at the First Lutheran Church in Newell, with the Rev. Harlan Robbins officiating. Inurnment, with military honors provided by the Nisland American Legion, will be at noon at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.
Memorials have been established to the First Lutheran Church of Newell and the Christian Worship Hour, P.O. Box 2002, Aberdeen, SD 57401. Condolences may be sent to the family at www.kinkadefunerals.com.
Betty Joyce Halla
RAPID CITY — Betty Joyce Halla, 82, Rapid City, died Nov. 9, 2009, at home.
She was born on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 25, 1926, in Marshall, Mo., to Curtis and Dorothy (Dally) Ireland. She spent the first years of her life in Gebo, Wyo., where her father and grandfather worked for the Owl Creek Coal Company.
As a young girl, the family moved to Rapid City where Betty graduated from high school. She then attended Yankton College in Yankton, S.D., where she met her husband Stan(ley) Halla. After six weeks of dating, they became engaged and married in Yankton on Oct. 31, 1946.
After the births of their sons, both on Friday the 13th, people would tell Betty “Well what did you expect, you got married on Halloween!”
The couple spent the first few years of their married lives in Yankton, Scotland, S.D., and Sunflower, Kan. The family lived in Mitchell and Sioux Falls before moving to Rapid City in 1962. In addition to being a homemaker and mother, Betty also worked as a bank teller and Head Teller at Norwest Bank (now Wells Fargo). She retired around 1984. Betty was a treasurer for her lady’s group at the First Congregational Church in Rapid City, and also the campaign treasurer for former Rapid City mayor Ed McLaughlin.
Betty loved spending time with family and friends, talking or playing games, and enjoyed the theater and old movies. She was especially close to her mother, her daughter, and her grandmother Edith (Thompson) Dally. She also was a wonderful cook and enjoyed making cookies with her daughter and granddaughters.
Surviving is her husband, Stan, of Rapid City; sons Bruce (Carol) Halla of Ladson, S.C., and Brian (Nancy) Halla of Greeley, Colo.; her daughter, Diane, of Rapid City; granddaughters Dawn Halla of Tuscola, Ill., and Ambur Halla of Greeley; and a brother, Curt Ireland. She was preceded in death by her parents.
Memorial services will be at 10 a.m. on Monday, Nov. 16, at the First Congregational United Church of Christ with the Rev. Ted Huffman officiating.
Inurnment will be in Black Hills National Cemetery at a later date.
Memorial contributions may be made to Hospice of the Hills.
Arrangements are entrusted to Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home.
Her online guest register is available at www.osheimschmidt.com.
Kenneth Clyde Hanna
RAPID CITY — Kenneth Clyde Hanna, 85, Rapid City, died Friday, Nov. 13, 2009, at Rapid City Regional Hospital.
Survivors include his wife, Lois Hanna, Rapid City; three daughters, Kathleen Larsen, Santa Rosa, Calif., Cheryl Taylor, Corona, Calif., and Johnetta Davis, San Bernardino, Calif.; a stepdaughter, Kathleen Bley, Auburn, Wash.; a son, Scott Hanna, San Bernardino; a stepson, Jim Fergusson, Anchorage, Alaska; six grandsons; two granddaughters; five stepgrandsons, two stepgranddaughters, nine great-grandsons, six great-granddaughters, nine stepgreat-grandsons, and four stepgreat-granddaughters.
Services will be at 11 a.m. Friday, Nov. 20, at St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, with the Rev. Kathy Monson Lutes officiating.
A memorial has been established to the Rapid City Club for Boys.
An online guestbook is available at www.kirkfuneralhome.com.
Gene Kocmick
AVON — Gene Kocmick, 72, Avon and formerly of Rapid City, died, Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009, at Avera Sacred Heart Hospital in Yankton.
Services will be at 10:30 a.m. CST Monday Nov. 16, at First Presbyterian Church in Avon. Burial will be at Tyndall Cemetery.
Crosby-Jaeger Funeral Chapel of Avon is in charge of arrangements.
Roebetta B. Roth
RAPID CITY — Roebetta B. Roth, 72, Rapid City, died Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009, at home.
Survivors include her husband, Cole Roth, Rapid City; a son, Glen Roth, Black Hawk; two daughters, Glenda Roth, Rapid City, and Carla Hague, Rapid Valley; four grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; a brother, Elmer Smith; and a sister, Agnes Ehli.
Arrangements are pending with Behrens-Wilson Funeral Home.
Richard Louis Taylor
RAPID CITY — Richard (Dick) Louis Taylor, 88, died Thursday, Nov. 12, 2009, at his home, surrounded by his family. He was born July 4, 1921 in Valentine, Neb. to Walter and Beryl (Kirschner) Taylor. The family moved from Harrington, S.D., to Rapid City, S.D., shortly after Richard was born. He graduated from high school in Rapid City and received a degree in civil engineering from SDSM&T.
Richard married Pearl Sanders October 29, 1943. They briefly lived in Seattle during WWII while Richard worked for Boeing Company.
They returned to the Black Hills where they ranched in partnership with Richard’s father and brother, the late Walt Taylor and the late Harold (Gene) Taylor, respectively.
Richard was very active in the community for over fifty years: He was director from the Pennington County district for the South Dakota Stockgrowers Association (SDSGA) for 26 years; president of the Board of Governors to administer the SDSGA scholarship fund to the Rapid City Boys Club; chairman of the SDSGA Land Use Committee; and the association’s representative on the National Cattlemen’s Association Public Lands Committee. He also served as the chairman of the South Dakota Public Lands Council for several years. Richard was the past director of the Black Hills Exposition and Central States Fair; director/president of the South Dakota Hereford Association; and director/president of the Black Hills Hereford Breeder’s Association for many years. He was the past director/chairman of the Western Junior Livestock Show and the Pennington County Extension Board; local school board chairman for fifteen years and a 4-H leader for more than twenty-five years. He was also the past president of the Pennington County 4-H Leaders Association.
Richard and Pearl operated the Golden Rule Hereford Ranch in the Rapid Valley, Deerfield, and Pactola areas, before retiring to the Pactola ranch.
From the mid-1950s to mid-1970s, Richard called for square and round dance clubs throughout the Black Hills and taught classes in both types of dancing.
In 1995, Richard and Pearl were recipients of the Rapid City Chamber of Commerce “Aggie Award” for their service to agriculture in South Dakota. He was also awarded the Tom Didier Pioneer Award in 2005. The Taylors’ dedication and involvement in the SDSGA, the Black Hills Stock Show, Central States Fair and other community committees rightfully earned them the spot in the 2005 Black Hills Stock Show Hall of Fame.
Richard was an avid hunter and fisherman, and enjoyed spending time with his family and friends, especially his great-grandchildren. He recently commented, “I’ve walked this earth for 88 years, so it can’t get any better than that.”
Survivors include his wife, Pearl of 66 years; three daughters, Pamela (Curt) Johnson, Piedmont, Patricia (Jerrold) Vaughn, Pactola, and Susan (Gary) Thar, Gillette, Wyo.; his sister Florence (Darrel) Hansen, Hill City; nine grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren, and several nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother Harold Taylor; two sisters, Constance Blair and Alice Sanders; a granddaughter Gina Thar.
Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Monday, Nov. 16, at Behrens-Wilson Funeral Home and one hour before the services.
Funeral services will be at 10 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 17, at First Congregational Church, Rapid City. Burial will be at a later date.
In lieu of flowers, a memorial has been established to the Western Junior Livestock Show Scholarship Award fund or memorial of your choice.
Condolences may be conveyed to the family at www.behrenswilson.com.
Geraldine M. Vellek
RAPID CITY — Geraldine May (Silvernail) Vellek, 75, Rapid City and formerly of Tyndall, passed away Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009, at Fountain Springs Health Care with her children at her bedside.
Geraldine was born Aug. 12, 1934, the only child of Gerald and Louise (Evers) Silvernail. She graduated Scotland High School and was Valedictorian of her senior class. In 1952, she married and raised four children. After her children were grown, she returned to school to earn a nursing degree. She helped many people as a caring nurse and nurse’s aide for many years. She also worked on the family farm, was a bookkeeper and volunteered teaching Sunday school. Geraldine returned to Tyndall to care for her aging parents until their death.
Geraldine was never happier than when she was with her children and grandchildren who will miss her.
Geraldine is survived by her children, Lynne (Vellek) Hoffman and husband Terry, Gig Harbor, Wash., Craig Vellek, Tyndall, Carol (Vellek) Borchard and husband Evan, Black Hawk, and Kelly (Vellek) Krier, Kearney, Neb.; and four grandchildren, Conner Krier, Carmen Krier, Katie Hoffman and Scott Hoffman.
No public memorial service is planned; a private family service will be held at a later date.
Arrangements are under the direction of Goglin Funeral Home of Tyndall.
A memorial tribute of Geraldine’s life and online condolences are available at www.goglinfh.com.
