Chris Mechling
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Major, 109th Engineering Battalion; Drainage and demolition of dam on Deadman's Creek above Sturgis; Reconnaissance patrol on which 2 Guardsmen were lost; Evacuation of people from flooded areas of Sturgis.
SD Oral History Center
June 29, 1972
Chris Tscharner
Written Memory
Christianson, Joyce
BIRTH 29 Jan 1961
Watertown, Codington County, South Dakota, USA
DEATH 9 Jun 1972 (aged 11)
Rapid City, Pennington County, South Dakota, USA
BURIAL
Havana Cemetery
Havana, Sargent County, North Dakota, USA
She was born to Oscar Christianson and Marie Coleman or Colemer, she was at the time of her death a foster daughter to Walter Juhnke, who also died in the flood, she was survived by her father and a brother Wayne Christianson in Watertown SD, her mother died Feb 11, 1972 and her mother and father are also buried in this cemetery.
Claire Mayer
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An evening of entertainment by Canyon Lake became an evening of terror. Claire and Frankie helped with radio communications.
Rapid City Public Library
May 21, 2006
Coker, Cecil LeRoy
BIRTH 29 May 1898
Box Butte County, Nebraska, USA
DEATH 9 Jun 1972 (aged 74)
Rapid City, Pennington County, South Dakota, USA
BURIAL
Fairview Cemetery
Alliance, Box Butte County, Nebraska, USA
Cecil L. Coker, 74, retired rancher. Fifth child of William Silas & Jane (Alexander) Coker. Husband of Nellie Heath and father of Ronald Leroy Coker (killed in Vietnam) as well as three other children. He perished with his wife of three months. He was survived by two sons and one daughter. Buried in the Fairview Cemetery, Alliance, NE.
Coker, Flora Napier Allen
Flora Napier Allen Coker, 73. She perished with her husband of three months. She was survived three sons, one brother and three sisters.
Coldwell, Gertrude Peggy (Wakefield)
Gertrude Coldwell, 71. A registered nurse lived in the Braebburn Addition and perished with her husband. She was survived by one son and two sisters. Buried in the Mountain View Cemetery.
Coldwell, Rufus McRee
Rufus M. Coldwell, 74. Founded and owned Motive Parts and Supply, Inc. He perished with his wife. He was survived by one son. Buried in the Mountain View Cemetery.
Collins, Rev. Francis John, S.J.
Rev. Francis John Collins, S.J., 69. Superior of Mother Butler. He perished after being trapped in the recreational hall of the Mother Butler Center. He was survived by relatives. Buried in the Holy Rosary Cemetery on the Rosebud Reservation.
Corbin, Myron Henry
Myron Henry Corbin, 44. A member of the National Guard from Webster, SD. He perished while trying to help others in the flood. He was survived by his wife, one son, three daughters, his mother, four sisters and three brothers. Buried in the Milbank Cemetery, Milbank, SD.
Corner, Mary Bea (Baxter)
Mary Bea Corner, 48, widow. Owned the La Femme women’s clothing store and sold real estate. She was survived by one son and one daughter. Buried in the Black Hills National Cemetery.
Corwin, Arla Estaline
Arla E. Corwin, 19. She lived in the Braeburn Addition and perished with her mother and grandmother. She was survived by her father and one brother. Buried in the Lakeside Cemetery, Wicksville, SD.
Corwin, Opal Estaline (Barber)
Opal E. Corwin, 56. She lived in the Braeburn Addition and perished with her mother and daughter. She was survived by her husband and one son. Buried in the Lakeside Cemetery, Wicksville, SD.
Costello, Annette Rose (Hodek)
Annette R. Costello, 78, widow. Her late husband, Al Costello, was a local businessman and owned a brewery for a time. She lived at 411 Bennan Street, with Rapid Creek in her backyard. She refused to leave her home despite the pleas from her family and friends, expecting things to be not as bad as predicted. She was survived by two sons, Kenneth and Richard Costello, and a grand-daughter, Saundra Jean Costello-Fleming. Kenneth Costello worked the days prior to the flood, sand-bagging local schools and businesses. He was found by rescuers holding on to a tree in the swift water, not knowing at the time that he had lost his mother in the flood. Having lost everything, Kenneth relocated to Arkansas where his daughter Saundra lived. Annette Costello is buried in the Mount Calvary Cemetery, Rapid City, SD.
Craig Smith
Craig Smith's recollection of the 1972 flood. Recorded during the 50th Anniversary event at Rapid City Public Library.
Rapid City Public Library
June 8, 2022
Crowder, Daniel Brent
Daniel B. Crowder, 16. He was a student at the Stevens High School. He perished with his father and a brother. He was survived by his mother, one brother and one sister. Buried in the Mountain View Cemetery, Rapid City, SD.
Crowder, Matthew Lloyd
Matthew L. Crowder, 14. He perished with his father and one brother. He was survived by his mother, one brother and one sister. His body was never found.
Crowder, Richard Brent
Dr. Richard B. Crowder, 51. A neurosurgeon in Rapid City. He perished with two sons. He was survived by his wife, one son and one daughter. Buried in the Mountain View Cemetery, Rapid City, SD.
Cummings, Lance Arnold
Lance A. Cummings, 6 months. He lived at 321 New York Street. He was torn from his father’s grip and perished along with his 2 ½ year old sister. He was survived by his father and mother. Buried along with his sister in the Martin Community Cemetery, Martin, SD.
Cummings, Tamara Dee
BIRTH 10 Dec 1969
Great Falls, Cascade County, Montana, USA
DEATH 10 Jun 1972 (aged 2)
Rapid City, Pennington County, South Dakota, USA
BURIAL
Martin Community Cemetery
Martin, Bennett County, South Dakota, USA
Tamara was born to Arnold Cummings and Joyce Cline Cummings. The family lived at 321 New York Street in Rapid City.
The story in the newspaper was that she was torn from her mother's arms by the flood waters after the family was awakened by water filling their apartment. AS they were attempting to leave they were hit by the flood waters and Joyce lost her grip on Tammi and her husband was also hit by debris and lost his grip on Lance.
Tamara was survived by a brother David an a sister Heather, as well as four Aunts: Carole, Jean, Becky and Crystal and two Uncles: Adrian and Dennis Cline.