Atwater, Clara (Knutson)
Clara Atwater, 89. She was a resident of Clarkson Mt. View Rest Home at the time of her death. She was survived by six sons. Buried in the Pine Lawn Cemetery.
Audrey Lang and Patricia Wright
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Audrey and Patricia were isolated by the flood in their home near the Cleghorn fish hatchery. They also discuss the flood's effect on Rapid City.
Rapid City Public Library
July 23, 2006
Back, Raymond Sebastian
BIRTH 23 Sep 1904
Chicago, Cook County, Illinois, USA
DEATH 9 Jun 1972 (aged 67)
Rapid City, Pennington County, South Dakota, USA
BURIAL
Mount Calvary Cemetery
Rapid City, Pennington County, South Dakota, USA
Raymond Back was born 23 Sept 1904 in Chicago Illinois, to Joseph and Margaret (Prosser) Back.
He was raised in Redwood, MN and came to Rapid City in 1925 from Douglas, Wyoming where his family lived. He married Verna Minton September 19,1928 in Pennington County, SD.
He was a truck driver for a construction company and later a self employed carpenter and cabinet maker.
He is survived by his wife and sons Raymond Jr, Charles, Coy, Craig and Marion, and one daughter, Verna Grauel of Rapid City, and a brother Clarence, all of Rapid City.
Behren's Mortuary handled arrangements.
Baldwin, James Howard Sr.
James H. Baldwin, Sr., 76. He owned and operated a locker plant. He lived on Canyon Lake Drive at the time of his death. He was survived by his wife and one son. Buried in the Pine Lawn Cemetery.
Balsley, Mary Blanche (Criveau)
BIRTH 20 May 1908
East Grand Forks, Polk County, Minnesota, USA
DEATH 9 Jun 1972 (aged 64)
Rapid City, Pennington County, South Dakota, USA
BURIAL
Mount Calvary Cemetery
Rapid City, Pennington County, South Dakota, USA
Mary Blanch Criveau Balsley was born 20 May 1908 at East Grand Forks Polk County MN to John Cariveau and Clarise Clara Bouschee Cariveau.
She was married to Herman Balsley 12 July 1926 in North Dakota. They lived for a time in the early 1930's in Beadle County South Dakota where Herman worked for a packing plant. They came to Rapid City in 1936 and worked as a butcher and later a bar tender
They moved to Minneapolis in the mid 1940's. Where her husband died August 1,1953. She came back to Rapid City 1968 and worked as a dish washer for the Sheraton Johnson from 1968 to 1971 and recently worked for the Alex Johnson Hotel. She lived at 616 New York Street.
She is survived by three sons: Donald of Rapid City, William of Chicago and Sam in the Navy and two daughters Grace Hanson of Rapid City and Delores Swayze of Jerffery City Wy.
Barb Mechaley Wicks
Barb Mechaley Wicks' recollection of the 1972 flood. Recorded during the 50th Anniversary event at Rapid City Public Library.
Rapid City Public Library
June 8, 2022
Barbara Culey
Written Memory
June 9, 2011
Barbara Hamilton
Written Memory
June 10, 2012
Barbara Judd (Glover) Booth
Written Memory
June 22, 2009
Barber, Daisy E.
Daisy E. Barber, 82, a widow from Wicksville, SD. She was visiting her sister in the Braeburn Addition where she perished. She was survived by three sons and two daughters. Buried in the Wicksville Lakeside Cemetery.
Bauch, Henry Andrew
Henry A. Bauch, Jr., 27. He was employed by a Vending Machine Company. He arrived in Rapid City from Burkburnett, TX, one year before the flood. He with his wife, Valerie, perished when hit by a wall of water while in their car. He was survived by one son, one daughter, his parents and two sisters. Buried in the Burkburnett Cemetery, Texas.
Bauch, Valerie Jean (Weddington)
Valerie (Weddington) Bauch, 26. She arrived in Rapid City with her husband one year before the flood. She perished with her husband, Henry, by being swept away in their car after being hit by a wall of water. She was survived by one son, one daughter, her parents, four brothers and three sisters. Buried in the Burkburnett Cemetery in Texas.
Baumberger, Roland Babe
Roland J. Baumberger, 50. He owned and operated Flowers by Leroy until his death. He was survived by his wife and one son, David. Buried in the Mountain View Cemetery.
Beberger, Henry K.
Henry K. Beberger, 87, Montrose, SD. He was residing in a Rapid City nursing home at the time of his death. He was survived by a number of nephews and nieces from Montrose area. Buried in the St. Patrick’s Cemetery in Montrose, SD.
Bendert, Elmer Leonard
Elmer Bendert, 66. He was employed as a carpenter at the Robbins and Sterns Lumber Co. He lived in Jackson Park and he and others went to higher ground for safety, but perished when he went back to his house to answer a ringing phone. He was survived by his wife, his mother, three brothers and one sister. Buried in the Mountain View Cemetery.
Bert Corwin
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Bert's father, stepmother, stepsister and stepgrandmother were forced to the attic of their home the evening of June 9 because of rising floor waters. Bert's father was the only survivor.
Rapid City Public Library
June 8, 2012
Betty Bonawitz
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Betty worked at Erickson's Flower Box and recalls every morning day after day driving through flood debris to get to work. She arranged six to seven flower casket pieces a day as they were the only flower shop open for some time.
Rapid City Public Library
June 8, 2012
Betty Flanagan
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[Southwest quarter, southwest quarter, section 35, township 2 north, range 7 east] Home flooded shortly after Canyon Lake Dam broke; Mrs. Flanagan, her husband and daughter floated on a mattress until 6:30 a.m.; All houses around them were destroyed; Rescued by National Guard; Given shelter in private home.
SD Oral History Center
June 26, 1972
Betty Jo Sagdalen
Written Memory
Bill and Mary Cress
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Mary & Bill Cress describe their experiences the night of the flood.
Rapid City Public Library
June 2, 2009