Richard A. “Doc” Zoss, 71, Letcher, died Saturday, Sept. 7, 2013 in his nephew’s home at Emery under hospice care.
He was born June 21, 1942 at the Methodist Hospital in Mitchell to Albert and Marie (Campbell) Zoss. He grew up and attended Heald country school near Letcher and also attended Letcher School. He worked on a combining crew after high school and later worked for a construction company.
In 1966 Richard joined the National Guard at Woonsocket and in 1969 transferred to Fort Lewis U.S. Army Base in Washington State until his honorable discharge in 1972.
He joined his uncle, Rowland Campbell, in Seattle, Wash. and drove semi-truck across country for many years. During his last years he drove in Washington state hauling containers to the shipyards.
He retired and moved home to South Dakota on July 4, 2006. His dream was to always be a farmer, so his retirement years were spent farming, collecting old tractors and guns and attending farm auctions. He was a member of the American Legion and the Moose Lodge.
He is survived by one sister, Janice (Terry) Hendrix, Artesian; two nephews, Mike Zoss, Buckeye, Ariz., and Pat (Sue) Zoss, Emery; one grandniece and two step-grandnephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, two brothers and one sister.
Memorials are preferred to the Mitchell Avera Hospice.