Browse Items (533 total)

William M. Johnston, 61. A widower who worked for the Railroad. On the night of the flood he was trapped on a roof of a house with a woman. At his request a helicopter removed her first and when they returned he was not found. He was survived by a…

William Hough tells his story of escaping the flood waters with his five year-old son and how the events of June 9 have stayed with his family.

William H. Rough, 26. He was stationed at Ellsworth AFB and was working with the REACT trying to save lives when he perished. He was survived by his wife, his parents and three sisters. Buried in the Floral Haven Memorial Gardens, Broken Arrow,…

William G. Medley, 50. He was a Major and Commander of the Rapid City Salvation Army. He perished in his truck while trying to save others when the Canyon Lake Dam broke. He was survived by his wife, one son and one daughter. Buried in the Salvation…

William E. Taylor, 6. He perished with his brother and sister. He was survived by his parents. Buried in the Mountain View Cemetery, Rapid City.

Wiliam Magner Sr was born November 30,1920 in Duluth MN to Ralph Beatty Magner and Janet MacAulay,he was an only child. He attended the University of Minnesota where he was associated with Sigma Alpha Epsilon.He served in the Air Force during WW 11…

William Dean Albright, 13.

Born on November 2, 1958 in Wichita, KS, to Charles and Wanda (Purcel) Albright. A student from West Junior High School. On the night of the flood, he tried to move cattle to higher ground in the Nemo Road area. He…

William A. Taylor, Jr., 5. He perished with his brother and sister. He was survived by his parents. Buried in the Mountain View Cemetery, Rapid City.

William Albers, 57.

Born to William and Cora (Smith) Albers in Litchfield, NE, on July 19, 1914. Employed by the Black Hills Packing Plant at the time of his death. A relative said on the night of the flood, he was helping people cross a bridge…

[Southeast quarter, southwest quarter, section 8, range 7 east, township 1 north] Rise of water in Rapid Creek, Braeburn Addition; Evacuation from home about 10 p.m.; Rise of water on Riverdell Drive while evacuating mother and stepfather; Mr. Hixson…

Wilfred Smolnikar, 28. He was employed by the State Auditor Office. He and his wife perished in the Dark Canyon area. He was survived by his parents, one brother and one sister. Buried in the Black Hills National Cemetery.

Wilfred Hopkins, 75. He was a retired Rancher and lived in a trailor park on North West Blvd. where he perished. He had no known next of kin. Buried in the Mount Calvary Cemetery, Rapid City, SD.

Wilbur George "Bill" Bishop, 54.
Born on February 1, 1918 to George and Elsie Bishop near DeSmet, SD.
Married Nellie Beatty on October 24, 1952 in Winner, SD. Served in the Army Air Corps during World War II.
At the time of his death, Wilbur was…

Walter Albert Juhnke was born May 23, 1911 to Albert and Emma Kruger Juhnke at Wasta in Pennington County South Dakota. He married Betty Myrtle Simons in Pennington County in Oct of 1934, they were divorced, he married Eileen Whipple in 1948 in…

[Southeast quarter, southwest quarter, section 8, township 1 north, range 7 east] Damage to homes in Braeburn Addition; Home knocked off foundation and moved about 70 feet; Experiences of neighbors

Vinton Smith was born and raised during most of his youth on a farm 10 miles south of Fairview, Kansas. Mrs. Smith was the former Ferne Lugenbeel, who was born and raised at Padonia, Kansas. The body of Mr. Smith has been found and identified,…

Written Memory

Vesper's mobile home was destroyed by flood waters the night of June 9. Forty years after the disaster, her class ring was returned to her by a member of the salvage team who had found the ring during the clean-up efforts and spent four decades…

Vern Bauer was on duty as a patrolman with the Rapid City Police Department the night of the flood. His assignment was the west side of Rapid City.

Valerie Jean (Weddington) Bauch, 25.

Born on March 6, 1947 to Charles and Ethel Weddington in Peoria, IL. Married Henry Bauch on November 26, 1966 in Lawton, OK.
She arrived in Rapid City with her husband one year before the flood. She perished…