David Ross Toland was born on April 30, 1917 to Maude and Earl A. Toland in Huron, South Dakota. In his early years he lived in Huron and Wessington Springs. During this time he earned his Eagle Scout Badge and met his future wife Helen. Dave attended schools in these towns and then attended the South Dakota School of Mines in Rapid City where he earned a BS Degree in Geology and worked as a Geophysicist. After graduation he used his education searching for oil to support the war effort in many different states. Dave and Helen married in the early years of the war; they had two children Mary and John. They lived well searching for oil and raising their children. During their working years they lived many exciting places Venezuela, Canada, Indonesia, Saudi Peninsula, Argentina, Columbia and many of the great United States.
Dave had numerous hobbies including yard work, golf, wood working, card games (he played a mean game of cribbage and bridge) and flying. Most of all Dave was a great provider for his family. Dave would always go out of his way to meet his family's needs whether it was taking kids ice skating, teaching them to drive, he and Helen going curling, going camping and supporting Boy Scouts, taking Helen on trips or just a weekend drive.
Dave and Helen retired to the Lake Conroe area North of Houston, Texas. There, they built their retirement home and spent over 20 years together enjoying family, friends their yard and flowers as well as golf and card games.
Dave's life was blessed with his family and friends. Dave was a Gentle Man and a Gentleman, he treated all people with courtesy and respect and he earned this in return from everyone around him.
Dave left this world on March 27 surrounded by his family and will be waiting on us in Heaven.
The Funeral Mass will be held Friday, March 30, 2012 at 10:30 AM at St. John Vianney Catholic Church, 625 Nottingham Oaks Trail, Houston, TX 77079. The Rite of Committal will follow mass at Garden Park Cemetery, 801 Teas Road, Conroe, TX. In lieu of flowers please consider contributions in David's memory to the Parkinson's Disease Foundation.
Lee Stephen Wright, 93, Sturgis, died Sunday, August 4, 2013, at the Department of Veterans Affairs Fort Meade Community Living Center following an extended illness.
Visitation will be Tuesday, August 6th from noon to 8:00 p.m. with a rosary beginning at 7:00 p.m. at Kinkade Funeral Chapel.
Mass of Christian burial will be Wednesday, August 7, 2013, at 9:00 a.m. at St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church with Father Arnold Kari officiating.
Burial will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery with military honors provided by Rapid City Post 1273 Honor Guard.
Lee was born December 10, 1919, at Vale, SD, to William and Jessie (Berry) Wright. He grew up and attended school in Vale. Lee served in the US Army from 1944 until his honorable discharge in 1946.
Lee moved to Iowa then returned to South Dakota. He married Mildred Osborne in Spearfish in 1938. To this union, two children were born, John and Gussie.
Following Mildred's death, he married Vera King in 1963.
After Vera's death, Lee married Eleanor Kopp in Sturgis in 1993.
Lee worked at Homestake Gold Mine in Lead for 34 years. He retired in 1982.
He was a member of St. Francis of Assisi, the Knights of Columbus, and Sturgis Golden K Kiwanis. Lee enjoyed fishing, hunting, golfing, playing cards, and spending time with his family and his extended family.
Survivors include his wife, Eleanor Wright, Sturgis; his daughter, Gussie Erickson, Sturgis; his stepsons, J. Ed (Debra) King, Meeker, CO, Dik (Suzanne) Kopp, Newcastle, WY, Dennis (Tina) Kopp, Sturgis, and Neil (Mary) Kopp, Newcastle, WY; stepdaughters, Paula (Robert) Whetzal, Sturgis, Bonnie Bruch, Sturgis, Patti (Kim) Coe, Vale, SD, Connie Grayum, Locust Grove, OK, and Carmen (Todd) Sherman, Wilmington, NC; twenty-nine grandchildren; twenty-eight great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.
He was preceded in death by his parents; his wives, Mildred and Vera; his son, John Wright; two grandsons, Trent Coe and Byron Crown; and six brothers and sisters.
A memorial has been established to St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church.
Bio/Pic Courtesy of Deborah.Ridgway.