Frances Ann Torgrude Erickson (DHS1954), Age 79, of Sturgis, SD, died Oct. 23, 2015 at Sturgis Long Term Care ~ Reported by Shirley Kettelhut Rounesvell DHS1954

Frances Ann Torgrude Erickson

DHS1954

July 26, 1936 - October 23, 2015

Guest Register

Frances Ann Torgrude Erickson, 79, of Sturgis, SD, died Oct. 23, 2015 at Sturgis Long Term Care. She was born to John and Pansy Marie (Trew) Wagner on July 26, 1936 in Deadwood, SD. She attended school in Deadwood, graduating from Deadwood High School in 1954. She married Conley Torgrude in 1957 and to this union four daughters were born. She married Carl Erickson in Reno, Nevada in June of 1981.

Fran was very active in her church, Bethel Lutheran, later renamed Shepherd of the Hills Lutheran Church of Lead, SD, serving as parish secretary for many years. She later joined Grace Lutheran Church in Sturgis.

Fran began working for the U.S. Forest Service in 1978 at the Box Elder Job Corps Center near Nemo, SD, as the receptionist. When she retired in 2005, with 27 years of service, she was the Administrative Officer. She also worked for the Forest Service at the Nemo Ranger District at Deadwood, and the Spearfish Ranger District. Fran truly enjoyed working and greatly valued the relationships she established with her coworkers and the youth at the job corps.

Fran was involved in sewing, crocheting and crafting in younger years, but in later years, gravitated to more interactive pursuits such as playing cards (she loved pinochle), ballroom and square dancing, and singing with the church choir. She enjoyed traveling to group functions, meeting new friends, and reuniting with old friends and family. She retained a loving connection to her fellow classmates of the Deadwood High School class of 1954, especially with her dear friend, Loyola Moser Rundel.

Fran loved birds, and was especially partial to hummingbirds. She spent hours sitting on her back deck, or wherever they were, watching them flit back and forth.

Fran was preceded in death by her parents, an infant sister, Grace Marie, nephews Keith, Brian and James Davidson, and an aunt, Martha Wilkins. 

Fran is survived by her husband, Carl Erickson; daughters, Debbie (Kim) Smoot, Belle Fourche, SD, Connie (John) Schmitt, Grand Junction, CO, Tammie (David) Paulson, Clark, SD, and Pam (David) Carlson, Carol Steam, IL; step-children, Carla (Craig) Clement, Chandler, AZ and Warren Mark Erickson, Craig, CO; sisters, Kathryn LaBau, Spearfish, SD and Johnnie Lee Saunders, Vallejo, CA; 13 grandchildren and 26 great-grandchildren and extended family and friends.

Memorial services will Tuesday, Nov. 3, 2015 at 10:30 AM, at Grace Lutheran Church, Sturgis. Lunch will follow, with inurnment following at 12:30 PM at Black Hills National Cemetery, Sturgis. A memorial has been established. Condolences may be made to the family at kinkadefunerals.com

Major William “Bill” Duane Fish, USMC Ret., 83, of Rapid City SD died on Wednesday, September 30, 2015.

William Fish

DHS1950

August 7, 1932  -  September 30, 2015 

Rapid City SD - Major William “Bill” Duane Fish, USMC Ret., 83, of Rapid City died on Wednesday, September 30, 2015. 

Bill was the third son of Paul & Signe Fish, born in Deadwood, SD. In his beloved Black Hills, Bill and his siblings made a name for themselves as the “Fish Boys,” with their little sister Elaine along for the ride. Bill graduated from Deadwood High School in 1950. While in Deadwood, he met the love of his life, June (Zaiser) Fish. Following his high school graduation, Bill was awarded a scholarship and attended engineering school at the South Dakota School of Mines. However, life took him in a different direction and he enlisted with the United States Marine Corps in 1953. 

Bill and June were married on June 30, 1954 in Santa Rosa, CA. Soon their family grew to include five wonderful and adventurous children. While stationed in San Diego, CA, Bill was selected to participate in and was selected for the Naval Enlisted Scientific Program. Bill and June were moved to Lincoln, NE where he obtained his Bachelors degree in Physics and Mathematics from the University of Nebraska at Lincoln and was initiated into Phi Beta Kappa. 

When Bill graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1961, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Marine Corps. While attending The Basic School in Quantico, VA, Bill was promoted to 1st Lieutenant. 

During his career with the Marine Corps, Bill was promoted to Captain and later Major. His career took him to California, Okinawa, Virginia, Hawaii, Vietnam, Maryland, and North Carolina. His work as a communications officer included working with the NSA and the 2nd Marine Air Wing. Between deployments and stations Bill and his family always returned to the Black Hills. By the time he retired in 1976, he had received many accolades for his service. 

Following retirement from the Marine Corps, Bill and June moved back to the Hills, where they’ve remained ever since. He continued his work as an electronics engineer working with Motorola and then Solar Sound until his final retirement. Bill not only enjoyed golfing with his friends and family, he loved riding through the Hills, always meeting a friend, and using his sharp wit and humor with those he loved.

In addition to his love and wife, June, and progeny, he leaves behind his sister, Elaine Casteel (Perry) of Shelbyville, TN; as well as his friend and brother-in-law Leonard “Peanuts” Newman and sister-in-law Claudette Newman of Rapid City; sister-in-law Anna Fish of Alexandria, VA; and many beloved nieces and nephews. Bill was pre-deceased by his parents, Paul and Signe Fish; his mother and father-in-law, Herb and Lillian Zaiser; brother Donald Fish; brother John “Roy” Fish; brother-in-law Verne Zaiser and his wife Betty; and grandson Michael Paul Fish. 

Bill’s legacy continues to live with his children and their children: Rick Fish (Linda) of Albuquerque, NM; Kevin Fish (Veronica) of Deadwood; Ken Fish of Deadwood; Lauri Fish of Wilmington, NC; and Becky Bell (Mack) of Wake Forest, NC; 9 grandchildren and 5 great-grandchildren.

The family will receive visitors 4:00 to 6:00 pm. on Monday, October 5 at Osheim & Schmidt Funeral Home in Rapid City. 

A funeral service will be held at Osheim & Schmidt on Tuesday, October 6 at 10:00 am. with Chaplain Herb B. Cleveland officiating. 

The burial service will take place at 12:00 pm. at the Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis with full military honors.

An online guest book for Bill may be signed at www.osheimschmidt.com