2013 DHS~~~~~CANCELLED LACK OF INTEREST ~~~~~~~in the Deadwood Park

9th Annual Galena Ghost Town Fundraiser June 8th 2013

Poster by Lynn Borsch

Make your plans to attend this 9th Annual Event:

·        Ghost Town Fundraiser

·        Free Historic Walk

·        Music and BBQ

·        Vinegar Hill Cemetery

Remember DHS1918 Fred Borsh's "Tootsie" (1947 -1959)?  Both Fred and Tootsie made the Deadwood Wall of Fame!

Award by the Deadwood Historical Preservation Commission

FRED G. BORSCH III

SEPTEMBER 12, 1900

NOVEMBER 2, 1981

Born at the turn of the century to some of the first pioneers in the Black Hills, Freddie Borsch held a number of occupations over the years, ranging from prospector and engineer to pilot and bartender. But it wasn't until his late 40s that Freddie found his most successful profession: coyote trainer.

Freddie grew up in Galena and attended high school in Deadwood, where he played baritone in the 1915 Deadwood High School band and basketball on the school team in 1918. By the 1920s he was working with his brother Chester in the Salt Creek oil fields in Wyoming, but the pair left for California in 1926 with dreams of making the first flight across the Atlantic. When the pair realized they didn't have the necessary funding, they joined the team led by Charles Lindberg. Freddie even helped push the Spirit of Saint Louis out of its hanger in San Diego just before Lindberg's landmark flight. By the time Freddie returned to Galena, the tiny town was on the brink of abandonment. He bought up most of the settlement in an effort to preserve it.

In 1947 Freddie adopted Tootsie, an abandoned coyote that he taught to sing tunes as she howled. Word quickly spread about the pair, who became regional celebrities. When the coyote was designated the official animal of South Dakota in 1949, Tootsie began to serve as the state's mascot. Tootsie recorded an album, South Dakota Tootsie, and went on a ten-state tour with Freddie.

Freddie and Tootsie remained active in the local community, regularly making appearances at Deadwood High School football games and homecoming events. On August 6, 1949 Governor George T. Mickelson declared Tootsie South Dakota's Official Animal at the Days of '76 - another of the coyote's favorite local events. She also served as the official symbol of Freddie's Spot Liquor store, which stood on the corner of Main and Lee Streets in Deadwood. The giant neon sign he commissioned in Tootsie's honor has been restored and can be seen today near the original location of the Spot.

Tootsie died in 1959 and was buried behind Freddie's cabin in Galena. Freddie, who became an expert in Galena's history, lived in the cabin until he died in 1981. It is now occupied by his niece.

WATCH VIDEO

Recent Obits for John Francis Baggaley DHS1952 & Michael Joseph Stangle

http://dhsclassmates-obits.blogspot.com/

Late Death Notice of Patricia Trucano Burns DHS1951

Patricia Trucano Burns

1933-2013

Patricia Ann Burns, 79, of Rapid City, left to be with the Lord on Monday, March 25, 2013. As a caring mother, grandmother and great grandmother she will be missed by the family she cared for so much. 

“Patty” was born June 27, 1933 to Anthony Trucano and Janet Trucano, in Detriot, MI and grew up in Deadwood, SD. She graduated from Deadwood High School in 1951 and attended St. Mary’s College in South Bend, IN. She married James Burns and later earned a degree from Santa Monica City College in California where they began to raise a family. 

Patty returned to South Dakota with her children in 1968 and worked as a secretary/office manager in her family business, Black Hills Novelty, Inc. until her retirement in 2000. She was a lifetime member of the VFW and American Legion Post 22 Ladies Auxiliaries, and was active in the Fraternal Order of the Eagles Ladies Auxiliary. 

She loved to travel, meet people and spend time with her mother, children and grandchildren. She was an avid reader and especially enjoyed mystery novels and travel magazines. Patty loved music and singing; a love she passed on to her children and grandchildren. 

Patty is survived by her children, Kathleen Beerman, Ladue, Mo., James Burns, Wooster, Ohio, Daniel Burns, Henderson, Nevada, Janette Burns, Gardena, Calif., and Anthony Burns, Box Elder; 10 grandchildren; and three great grandchildren, all who love her and will miss her. 

Patty was preceded in death by her parents and her brother, John Trucano. 

Services were held Tuesday, April 2, at Kirk Funeral Home with the Rev. Nathan Sparks officiating. A memorial has been established.

Anita Gorder to be Buried in Deadwood Oak Ridge Cemetery March 23, 2013

TUSCALOOSA, AL  Tom Gorder’s wife Anita Ray Gorder, 74, passed away Friday, March 15, 2013, at DCH Regional Medical Center, near her home in Tuscaloosa.

Anita loved life and will be remembered by all who knew her for her warm, caring, giving nature and for a sense a humor that always brought a smile to those who surrounded her.

Anita was born June 27, 1938, in Harrison, Ohio, was raised in Dayton, Ohio, and before moving to Tuscaloosa in 1997, lived in Middletown, Ohio, for 17 years and Ashland, Ky., for 14 years.

She was an ardent University of Alabama sports enthusiast, an avid Master Gardener and an eager volunteer in a variety of organizations that included her church, Meals on Wheels, PEO International, Paramount Women’s Association and the Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra Guild.

She was preceded in death by her parents, Glen and Pearl McMamaman, and is survived by her husband, C. Tom Gorder of Tuscaloosa; daughters, Susan Miller Barnes (Jeffrey) of Teays Valley, W.V., and Cynthia G. Thomas (Michael) of Deadwood, S.D.; granddaughter, Lauren E. Miller of Lexington, Ky.; grandson, Trevor M. Barnes of Teays Valley; sister, Vera Rowell of Fort Worth, Texas; and brother, Leo McManaman of Dayton, Ohio.

The family celebrates Anita’s ascension into heaven to join her Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and invites friends to commemorate her life at a funeral service at 1 p.m. Wednesday, March 20, in the Westervelt-Warner Chapel at First Presbyterian Church, 900 Greensboro, Ave., Tuscaloosa, Ala. 35401, with Dr. Charles Durham officiating. Visitation from noon to 12:45 p.m. will precede the service. Heritage Chapel Funeral Home & Cremations, a Dignity Memorial Provider, is in charge of arrangements.

She will be laid to rest in Oak Ridge Cemetery in the beautiful Black Hills of South Dakota, which she loved so much. Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Saturday March 23, with Fidler Funeral Chapel in Spearfish, S.D., in charge of the graveside services.

In lieu of flowers, the family asks that donations honoring Anita be made to the Parkinson’s Association of Alabama, PO Box 590146, Birmingham, AL 35259.

Condolences may be offered at www.heritagechapeltuscaloosa.com.

GUEST BOOK

Thanks to Margaret Crary Sager and Bill Beshara for dhsclassmates support and contributions.

Mattie Hill's Grandson Clifford Melrose Celebrates his 78th Birthday

Clifford Melrose is recently shown celebrating his 78^th birthday.  He is Mattie Hill’s grandson.  Clifford and Georgia Melrose, Dr. Lila Morton Pengra and I nominated Mattie Hill for the Deadwood Wall of Fame.  It took over 3 years but Mattie was inducted into the 2012 Deadwood Wall of Fame.  Mattie is finally recognized for her diversity pioneering spirit and her African American contributions in Deadwood.  Clifford looks very much like his grandmother Mattie and sounds just like her too.

Happy Birthday dear friend, Mattie would be proud of you.

I met with Clifford and Georgia Melrose the first time and we discussed Mattie’s Wall of Fame nomination.  We also visited Mattie’s Mt. Moriah grave to pay our respects and admire her new family provided headstone.

Sara Nikont Owner of One of Deadwood's Last Core Businesses "Leo's Shoe Shop" Dies at age 94

SARA RUTH (KANE) NIKONT

October 12, 1918 – March 12, 2013

Sara Ruth (Kane) Nikont, 94, of Deadwood, passed away on March 12, 2013 at the Lead-Deadwood Regional Hospital.

Sara Ruth was born on October 12, 1918, in Bowman, ND, one of seven children to Robert and Charlotte (Etheridge) Kane. The family moved to Lead, SD when she was eight years old, and she lived in the Lead-Deadwood area all of her life, except for college at the University of Colorado in Boulder, CO. She graduated from Lead High School and worked for the J.J. Newberry store and the Hearst Mercantile Co. when on vacation from college. In 1942 she married Leo F. Nikont of Deadwood, owner of Leo’s Shoe Shop. She lost Leo in February of 1981 and continued to manage the store for the next seven years until she completed his 50 years in business.

She always felt so fortunate as there was always so much love, happiness and music in her life; the love of parents, husband, brothers, sisters, her twin brother, her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.

She loved people, music, travel and filled her life with all of these. She had traveled extensively both in the United States and abroad.

She is survived by her children, Charlotte (Don) Dickson, of New Brunswick, Canada; Cal (Myrna) Nikont of Lemmon, SD; Miles (Christine) Nikont of Lakewood, CO; and Marcie Ruth (Alan) Gappinger of Aurora, CO; her grandchildren, Saraya Arnold, Miles Skoog, Leandra, Kane, Robbie and Sara Nikont and special grandchildren Ryan, Rebecca and Laurie; great-grandchildren, Bella Ruth, Emilia, Tyson, Austin and Makayla; sister Charlotte Mowrey, sister-in-law Florence Kane and many nieces and nephews.

A Celebration of Life for Sara Ruth will be held at a later date.

Arrangements are under the care of the Lead-Deadwood Memorial Chapel in Lead.