Russell Carver, 95, of Belle Fourche, died Thursday, March 16, 2017, at the Rapid City Regional Hospital.
A Celebration of Life service was held Friday, May 12, at the United Methodist Church in Belle Fourche. Visitation was held Thursday, May 11, at Leverington Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche. Inurnment took place in the Little Dane Church Cemetery, near St. Onge.
Russell I. Carver was born Dec. 9, 1921, in Wiley, Colo., the son of Leon and Lena Marie (Clark) Carver. He grew up in the Wiley area.
He was united in marriage to Gladys Girard, and to this union four children were born: Carolyn, Tom, Jim and Kit. Following their marriage, Russ and Gladys settled in the Woonsocket area. The couple divorced, and in the mid-1960s, Russ moved to the Belle Fourche area.
On Nov. 30, 1968, Russ married Norma Jean Borg-Courtney in Spearfish, and together, they owned and operated Henry Thompson Livestock for many years. In August of 2010, Russ and Norma moved to Spearfish. Norma died in 2012, and in 2014, Russ moved to the Holiday Hills Retirement Center in Rapid City.
Russ will be remembered for his love of children and was a fun grandpa, who always had a pocket full of suckers to hand out. In his younger years, Russ earned his pilot’s license and enjoyed flying an airplane. He was a rodeo fan and supported the local cowboys, including the Black Hills Roundup, where he helped park cars.
Russell is survived by his daughters, Kelli (Kenny) McFarland of Belle Fourche, and Carolyn (Ed) Jenkins of Sante Fe, N.M.; his son, Tom (Laura) of Rancho Murieta, Calif.; step-daughters, Laura (Bob) Larson of Farmington, N.M., and Sandra (Milan) Salzsieder of Spearfish; 14 grandchildren; 19 great-grandchildren;  eight great great-grandchildren; daughters-in-law, June Carver of Rancho Murieta, Calif., and Judy Courtney of Spearfish; and sister, Wilma Durham of New Mexico.
He was preceded in death by his parents; wife, Norma; sons, Jim and Kit Carver; stepson, Wayne Courtney; and grandson, Casey McFarland.
Friends may leave written condolences online and view his video tribute at www.funeralhomeofthenorthernhills.com.