Richard Lloyd Graves, Sr. was born November 26, 1933 in Grand Island, Nebraska and died November 7, 2023 at the Fort Meade VA Hospital in Sturgis, SD, surrounded by his loving family.
His early years were spent in Bijou Hills, SD, and later moved to the family farm in Reliance, SD. He graduated from Reliance High School in 1951.
Richard joined the U.S. Navy in 1952 and was stationed in California. It was there he met and married Helen Colwill in 1956. Richard and Helen settled near Reliance operating a small dairy farm, where they raised their 4 children. Along with the dairy and farming, he sold Dekalb seed and worked for the American Breeders Service doing artificial insemination.
Along with being an Active member in the American Legion, he had many hobbies, including building 12 homes, numerous pole barns and storage sheds. His passion was building and restoring Model T cars, collecting old tools, dancing and operating his HAM radio.
He was divorced and later married Nora Olson in 1981.
Following retirement Richard and Nora moved to Rapid City, later moving to Noxon, Montana. He loved living in the mountains, picking huckleberries and blueberries, gardening, hiking, collecting old tools, wood carving, whittling diamond willow walking sticks and canes, playing Mexican Train dominos, and Skipbo. He also enjoyed fishing for salmon in Oregon. He was an active member in the VFW and often seen in the parades.
In Richard and Nora’s later years they enjoyed spending the winters in Quartzsite, AZ, where they made many new friends.
Richard is survived by his wife, Nora, Rapid City, SD; daughters Katherine Schoenfelder and Cinthia (Clay) Lange, both of Sturgis, SD; sons Richard Graves, Jr. Of Granby, CO and Paul Graves of Lennox, SD; stepchildren, Jerry (LeeAnn) Schubert and Judy (Pat) Schulte, both of Rapid City; brothers, Robert (Evelyn) Graves, Reliance, SD, Ray (Lynn) Graves, Colorado Springs, CO, and Dennis (Jeanne) Graves of Rapid City, SD; 10 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Lloyd and Dorothy Graves; and great granddaughter Hannah Elder.
Memorial services will be Friday, November 17, 2023, 2:00 p.m., Kinkade Funeral Chapel, Sturgis, SD. A Celebration of Life will be held at the Baptist Mountain Church, Noxon, MT, at a later date.
