He was characterized as a man who put others first and fought the good fight.

Rapid City Central High School teacher Doug Lefler died Sunday at Rapid City Regional Hospital after a long battle with multiple myeloma cancer.

Lefler graduated from Rapid City Central High School in 1989 and returned to teach as his alma mater.

Central High School Principal Mike Talley said Monday was a difficult day at the school. Counselors were available for both students and staff.

"He was a well-respected and well-known teacher, colleague and friend here at Central High School," Talley said. "He made an impact on a lot of students over the years, and an even larger impact on the colleagues that he worked with."

Matt Fischer, a Central High School graduate now living at Grand Forks, N.D., wrote on the Kirk Funeral Home guest book:

"Mr. Lefler was such a good teacher. I had him in my government class last year and he made the class so much fun. I looked forward to his class every day. He always had a joke for everything he did… He explained things so that the class would understand. If I didn't understand something he did everything he could do to help me. He will be missed a lot!! My thoughts and prayers are with the family."

Lefler, who taught social studies at Central High School his entire 13-year career, was nominated by his colleagues for Teacher of the Year in the Rapid City School District in 2007. Fellow teachers described him in their nomination as a caring and generous individual who lived by the motto "endeavor to persevere."

Talley respected Lefler for that.

"He was a fighter," Talley said. "He never came to work and complained about the illness one day. He put his students first. He was always concerned about others first."