Donald Fish

Submitted Story

Published: Wednesday, May 27th, 2009

  Donald Roy “Don” Fish was born Aug. 21, 1910, at Randolph, Neb., to Roy and Beulah (Athey) Fish, being the second of five children. He attended grade school near Hemmingford, Neb., and graduated from Alliance, Neb., High School. He married Frances Pelley at Chadron, Neb., in 1940, and started farming, ranching and trucking around the Chadron, Hay Springs and  Hemmingford, Neb., areas. They had two sons, Donald Sam and Larry Dean. In 1950 he brought his family to South Dakota to a place he bought between Oral and Smithwick, S.D. He recalled that day many times. The truck broke down at the state line and they arrived at their two room shack at 1 a.m. the day before Thanksgiving to their first South Dakota blizzard. He lived there, farming, ranching, trucking, fishing and helping neighbors. His son, Don bought his place but he continued to live there and continued to combine, truck, fish, hunt, play cards, golf and help neighbors. He had owned a truck since he was 19. At 95 Don moved to Brookside Apartments in Hot Springs, S.D., where he lived until the fall of 2008 when an illness caused him to move to Custer, S.D. Don died Monday, May 18, 2009, at Custer Regional Senior Care Center in Custer. Don was preceded in death by his wife, Frances; two sisters; and his son, Dean. Survivors include his sister, Lorraine Mohr of Butte, Neb.; brother, Dean Fish of Lakewood, Calif.; his son, Don (Jerry) Fish of Oral; grandsons, Josh (Misty) Fish of Custer, and Ty (Kelly) Fish of Buffalo Gap, S.D.; granddaughters, Tracy (RT) Hartshorn of Osakis, Minn., Sunnie (Dustin) Reeves of Owanka, S.D., Bunny (Roy) Boldon of Buffalo Gap; great grandchildren, Destynee Fish, Dustyn Fish, Logan Hartshorn, Laynee Hartshorn, Josee Hartshorn, Thor Fish, Zane Bolden, Breezy Bolden, Baxter Bolden; and numerous nieces and nephews. Funeral services were May 25 at St. John Lutheran Church in Hot Springs with Pastor Dwayne Hunzeker officiating. Interment followed at Fairview Cemetery in Oral. A memorial has been established in Don’s name. Written condolences can be made at www.mccolleyschapels.com.