David Duchene Akrop, beloved brother and uncle, 77, of Deadwood, passed away Thursday, February 1, 2024, in his home after a brief illness.
David was born December 13, 1946, at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Deadwood, the first child of Paul John and Genevieve (Duchene) Akrop. He attended St. Ambrose Catholic School through eighth grade and graduated from Deadwood High School in 1964. He attended Black Hills State College for two years and then transferred to and graduated from the University of Utah. He returned to Deadwood in 1970 to work with his brother Greg at the family business, Deadwood Granite and Marble Works.
David loved the history associated with the monument shop and western South Dakota cemeteries. He spent much of his time poring over records associated with local cemeteries and was considered an expert related to gravesites in the area. He cataloged and worked to resolve discrepancies between monument locations and city and town burial records. He and Greg also provided monument restoration services in Mount Moriah for the City of Deadwood’s Historic Preservation Office. They were very adept at repairing damaged monuments, plumbing tilting stones before they were damaged, and protecting the monuments during other heavy construction activities.
The monument shop was a warm weather business, and during the winter David skied nearly every weekday at Terry Peak (and weekends if a niece or nephew was at the Peak). He raced and ski jumped in his youth and loved skiing his entire life. He would count every day he skied and how many runs he made each day. He always needed “just one more lift ride” at the end of each day.
David was a lifelong member of St. Ambrose Church. He was preceded in death by his parents, Paul and Genevieve Akrop and his brother Greg. He is survived by his sister Mary Ann (Bruce) Oberlander; nephew Michael (Angela) Oberlander and their twins Matthew and Sarah; nieces Lisa (Jason) Jorgenson and their children Genevieve, Andrew and Benjamin; and Julie (Jeremy) Gibbons and their children Luke and Jonathon. Having never married, David loved his nieces and nephew and great-nieces and great-nephews as if they were his own kids and grandkids.
Visitation will be Tuesday, February 6, at St. Ambrose Catholic Church in Deadwood at 9:30 a.m. with Mass of Christian burial following at 10:30 a.m. After the service a luncheon will be served. Interment will be in the family plot in Rose Hill Cemetery in Spearfish following the luncheon.
A memorial has been established at Deadwood History, Inc. – Adams House and Museum.
Online condolences may be written at www.fidler-isburgfuneralchapels.com
