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Evelyn O'Conner
BELLE FOURCHE — Services are pending at Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche for Evelyn O'Conner, 98, longtime Belle Fourche educator.
Survivors include two nieces and one nephew.
Lester W. ‘Si' Pullen
KEYSTONE — Lester W. "Si'" Pullen, 80, owner and founder of Beautiful Rushmore Cave Inc., died
peacefully after a brief stay at Rapid City Regional Hospital on Monday, July 24, 2000.
He was born Jan. 17, 1920, at Spencer, Iowa, the son of Roy and Ella Pullen. He grew up on the family farm, attended Spencer Public Schools and graduated in 1938. He attended Des Moines American Institute of Business. Because of a farm accident, he was unable to join his four brothers in the military but was an active member of the Civil Air Patrol at Spencer, Iowa, and managed the family farm and two leased farms.
In 1945, he married the girl next door, Ruth Ressequie. In 1946, they lived briefly in Long Beach, Calif., where he was branch manager of the Bank of America. In the late 1940s, they moved back to Spencer and, with a partner, started Midwest Crib and Silo Company.
In 1950, Ruth and Si moved to the Black Hills and leased and operated the Old Crystal Cave (now Bethlehem Cave) at Tilford for one year. They leased and reopened Rushmore Cave in 1951 and purchased it in 1952 from the Ferguson family. The cave continues to grow as a leading tourism business in the Black Hills, with the third generation of family members participating in its operation.
Off season, the Pullen family spent 12 winters at Treasure Island, Fla., and 23 winters in the Hawaiian Islands, where they had many friends.
Si was a member of Grace Methodist Church in Spencer and United Church of Christ in Keystone. He was a charter member of Moose Lodge in Spencer and Arrowhead Country Club in Rapid City. He was a longtime director and vice president of Black Hills Badlands and Lakes Association and the first president of the South Dakota Tourist Association.
Si loved to hunt and spend time on his boats and snowmobiles and sled down the "big hill" with his grandchildren.
He was a devoted father to two daughters, Pamella Falurette Pullen and Cynthia Pullen-Esposti, both of Hayward, and stepfather to Gary Lundstrom, Rapid City; loving grandfather to nine grandchildren, Jarrod and Jessica Hollinger, Jenny, Chris and Ethan Esposti, Karla Marolf, Richie, Chad and Cory Lundstrom; a dear friend and companion to Juanita Schoniger, Keystone; brother of Florence Rusch, Spencer, Stan Pullen, Long Beach, and Ray Pullen, Tucson, Ariz., stepbrother of Jack Spitler, Rock Rapids, Iowa, and brother-in-law to Lillian Pullen, Spencer.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and brothers Harvey and Gilbert; and his wife of 39 years, Ruth. He was loved by many and will be missed by all.
Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 27, at Osheim-Catron Funeral Home in Rapid City. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, July 28, at Keystone United Methodist Church, with the Rev. Barbara Gammeter officiating. Burial will follow at Pine Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Rapid City. A memorial has been established.
Vctor L. Purcelli
NEWCASTLE, Wyo. — Victor L. Purcelli, 93, Newcastle, died Monday, July 24, 2000, at his home.
Survivors include his wife, Thelma Purcelli and son, Neal Purcelli, both of Newcastle; two daughters, Jean Purcelli, San Francisco, Calif., and Ellen Brooks, Sturgis; one sister, Mary Wing, Newcastle; one brother, Joe Purcelli, Dickinson, Texas; six grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. today at Worden Chapel in Newcastle.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 27, at Greenwood Cemetery in Newcastle, with the Rev. Al Simms of Newcastle Southern Baptist Church officiating.
Worden Funeral Directors of Newcastle is in charge of arrangements.
Victor L. Purcelli
NEWCASTLE, Wyo. — Victor L. Purcelli, 93, Newcastle, died Monday, July 24, 2000, at his home.
Survivors include his wife, Thelma Purcelli and son, Neal Purcelli, both of Newcastle; two daughters, Jean Purcelli, San Francisco, Calif., and Ellen Brooks, Sturgis; one sister, Mary Wing, Newcastle; one brother, Joe Purcelli, Dickinson, Texas; six grandchildren; and 10 great-grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. today at Worden Chapel in Newcastle.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Thursday, July 27, at Greenwood Cemetery in Newcastle, with the Rev. Al Simms of Newcastle Southern Baptist Church officiating.
Worden Funeral Directors of Newcastle is in charge of arrangements.
Lester W. ‘Si' Pullen
KEYSTONE — Lester W. "Si'" Pullen, 80, owner and founder of Beautiful Rushmore Cave Inc., died peacefully after a brief stay at Rapid City Regional Hospital on Monday, July 24, 2000.
He was born Jan. 17, 1920, at Spencer, Iowa, the son of Roy and Ella Pullen. He grew up on the family farm, attended Spencer Public Schools and graduated in 1938. He attended Des Moines American Institute of Business. Because of a farm accident, he was unable to join his four brothers in the military but was an active member of the Civil Air Patrol at Spencer, Iowa, and managed the family farm and two leased farms.
In 1945, he married the girl next door, Ruth Ressequie. In 1946, they lived briefly in Long Beach, Calif., where he was branch manager of the Bank of America. In the late 1940s, they moved back to Spencer and, with a partner, started Midwest Crib and Silo Company.
In 1950, Ruth and Si moved to the Black Hills and leased and operated the Old Crystal Cave (now Bethlehem Cave) at Tilford for one year. They leased and reopened Rushmore Cave in 1951 and purchased it in 1952 from the Ferguson family. The cave continues to grow as a leading tourism business in the Black Hills, with the third generation of family members participating in its operation.
Off season, the Pullen family spent 12 winters at Treasure Island, Fla., and 23 winters in the Hawaiian Islands, where they had many friends.
Si was a member of Grace Methodist Church in Spencer and United Church of Christ in Keystone. He was a charter member of Moose Lodge in Spencer and Arrowhead Country Club in Rapid City. He was a longtime director and vice president of Black Hills Badlands and Lakes Association and the first president of the South Dakota Tourist Association.
Si loved to hunt and spend time on his boats and snowmobiles and sled down the "big hill" with his grandchildren.
He was a devoted father to two daughters, Pamella Falurette Pullen and Cynthia Pullen-Esposti, both of Hayward, and stepfather to Gary Lundstrom, Rapid City; loving grandfather to nine grandchildren, Jarrod and Jessica Hollinger, Jenny, Chris and Ethan Esposti, Karla Marolf, Richie, Chad and Cory Lundstrom; a dear friend and companion to Juanita Schoniger, Keystone; brother of Florence Rusch, Spencer, Stan Pullen, Long Beach, and Ray Pullen, Tucson, Ariz., stepbrother of Jack Spitler, Rock Rapids, Iowa, and brother-in-law to Lillian Pullen, Spencer.
He was preceded in death by his parents; and brothers Harvey and Gilbert; and his wife of 39 years, Ruth. He was loved by many and will be missed by all.
Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday, July 27, at Osheim-Catron Funeral Home in Rapid City. Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, July 28, at United Church of Christ in Keystone, with the Rev. Barbara Gammeter officiating. Burial will follow at Pine Lawn Memorial Park Cemetery in Rapid City. A memorial has been established.
Verdin E. ‘Bud' Liddell
RAPID CITY — Verdin E. "Bud" Liddell, 77, Rapid City, died Tuesday, July 25, 2000, at his home.
Survivors include his wife, Norma Liddell, Rapid City; two daughters, Patty Kern and Lori Wood, both of Rapid City; two sons, Garry Liddell, Hawaii, Maurice Liddell, Katy, Texas; and 12 grandchildren.
Visitation will be from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. today at Rooks & Kirk Chapel of Light and one hour before services. A rosary service will be at 7 p.m. today at the funeral home.
Services will be at 1:30 p.m. Friday, July 28, at the funeral home. Burial will follow at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis, with military honors provided by the Sturgis Honor Guard.
Helen Connelly
LAS VEGAS — Helen Connelly, 78, Las Vegas, died Monday, July 24, 2000, in Las Vegas.
Survivors include four daughters, Sherrie Mann, Rapid City, Karen Connelly, Omaha, Neb., Kathy Hubbard, Mitchell, and Val Swift, Philip; three sons, Ronnie Connelly, Winner, Mike Connelly, Las Vegas, and Neal Connelly, St. James, Minn.; one sister, Rose Porter, Worland, Wyo.; 12 grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, July 28, at St. Therese Catholic Church in Rapid City, with viewing one hour before at the church. Burial will follow at Pine Lawn Memorial Park in Rapid City.
Rooks & Kirk Funeral Home in Rapid City is in charge of arrangements.
Yukio Salua Kapuali ‘iolilinoe Saballos
RAPID CITY — Yukio Salua Kapuali ‘iolilinoe Saballos, 8 months, Rapid City, died Sunday, July 23, 2000, at Rapid City Regional Hospital.
Survivors include her parents, Natsuki and Lilinoe Saballos, Ellsworth AFB; grandmothers; and great-grandmothers.
Visitation will be from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. today at Rooks & Kirk Funeral Home and also before services, which will be at 10 a.m. Friday, July 28, at Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.
Burial will follow at Mountain View Cemetery in Rapid City.
Shirley Mae Legner
RAPID CITY — Shirley Mae Legner, 58, Rapid City, died Monday, July 24, 2000, at Rapid City Regional Hospital.
She was born April 28, 1942, in Rapid City to George and Ella Ruth (Metcalf) Courtney. She attended school in Iowa and Minneapolis and graduated from Rapid City High School in 1960. She then graduated from National College in Rapid City. She married Richard E. Legner on June 4, 1961, in Rapid City. They lived in Rapid City for the past 32 years, and she was employed most of that time by US Bank.
Shirley was a member of Canyon Lake United Methodist Church in Rapid City. She loved the outdoors and enjoyed walking, running and biking. She had a true love and compassion for all people and all of God's creatures, large and small.
She is survived by her husband, Richard E. Legner, Rapid City; her mother, Ella Ruth Courtney, Rapid City; one son, Chris A. Legner, Rapid City; one daughter, Rebecca J. Moser and her husband, Rick R. Moser, Monument, Colo.; one brother, Donald Courtney, Salida, Colo.; and two grandchildren, Jessica Mae Moser and Ryan Ray Moser, both of Monument, Colo.
She was preceded in death by her father in 1986.
Visitation will be at Rooks & Kirk Funeral Home in Rapid City on Friday from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., with the family present from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m., and then at the church on Saturday for one hour before services.
Services will be 10 a.m. Saturday, July 29, at Canyon Lake United Methodist Church in Rapid City, with the Rev. Robert Ruedebusch officiating.
Interment will follow at Moutain View Cemetery in Rapid City.
A memorial has been established.
Evelyn O'Connor
BELLE FOURCHE — Evelyn O'Connor, 98, Belle Fourche, died Monday, July 24, 2000, in Belle Fourche.
Survivors include two nieces and one nephew.
Visitation will be from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. today, and one hour before services at Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche.
Services will be at 10 a.m. Friday, July 28, at United Methodist Church in Belle Fourche. Burial will be at Pine Slope Cemetery in Belle Fourche.
Jo-Marie Ruddell
SPEARFISH — Jo-Marie Ruddell, 83, of Spearfish, died Tuesday, July 25, 2000, at David M. Dorsett Health Care Facility, Spearfish.
She was born January 31, 1917, in Mount Holly, N.C., to Earl Asbury and Marie (Maguire) Thompson. She graduated from Mount Holly High School. She received her BA in drama at Greensboro College, Greensboro, N.C. She did graduate study in religious education at Duke University Divinity School, Durham, N.C. She was director of religious education at Bland Street Methodist Church, Bluefield, W. Va., and at West Market Methodist Church, Greensboro, N.C.
On Nov. 30, 1944, she married G. Richard Ruddell at West Market Methodist Church, Greensboro. The couple lived in Philadelphia from 1944 to1946, where they worked for the American Friends Service Committee. From 1946 to 1949, they worked in relief and rehabilitation for American Friends Service Committee (Quakers), in China.
The Ruddells returned to Philadelphia, where they were co-directors for two years for the Interns in Industry Quaker Project for two years. They came to Rapid City in 1951 and were co-executive directors of the Mayor's' Commission on Human Relations.
In 1954, they came to Spearfish. Jo-Marie was on the staff at Black Hills State University, first as interim dean of women, then publicity director and director of off- campus housing. In 1967, she became director of the student union, where she established the art gallery that now bears her name. She retired in 1980 and remained active in the community.
In the 1960s, the Ruddells served as lay ministers for the Congregational Church in Harding County and the Presbyterian Church in Meade County.
She was a member of, and active in, many organizations, including AAUW, Artemis House board of directors and the regional board for Community Action Program. She was a member of Business and Professional Women's Club and was accorded the honor "Woman of the Year." She was a member of United Church of Christ, where she served in many capacities.
Survivors include her husband, G. Richard Ruddell, Spearfish; three daughters, Franna Ruddell and her husband, Robert Hirsch, Reston, Va., M'Annette Ruddell, Philadelphia, and Jane Ruddell and her husband, John Leddy, Radnor, Pa.; one sister, Frances Lacy, Durham, N.C.; and four grandsons, Jacob and Benjamin Hirsch and Matthew and Scott Leddy.
She was preceded in death by her parents, two sisters, Anna Kathryn and Elizabeth, in childhood.
Visitation will be from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday, July 28, 2000, at Fidler Funeral Chapel, Spearfish, where the family will receive friends from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Funeral services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday, July 29, 2000, at United Church of Christ, with the Rev. Mel Miller officiating. Burial will follow at Rose Hill Cemetery under the direction of Fidler Funeral Chapel, Spearfish. The casket will remain closed at the church.
In lieu of flowers, contributions may be given to the Jo-Marie Ruddell Scholarship Fund for International and Native American Students at Black Hills State University and may be sent to P.O. Box 317, Spearfish, SD 57783.
