Richard Bailey

Funeral services for Richard Bailey were held on Friday, February 17, 2023, at 10:30 a.m. at the Burke Civic Center in Burke, SD, with Pastor Sarah Herman officiating. Music was provided by Jim Halverson, and Jolene VanMetre and Sherry Opbroek were in charge of registration. Flower attendants were Karen Martin, Linda Purvis, Sue Chytka, Sharon Neuharth, and Laurie Kenzy. Casket bearers were Tyler White, Noah Bailey, Spencer White, Levi White, Kenny Wall, and Kristian Ortiz. Honorary casket bearers were all of his friends. Interment was in the Graceland Cemetery in Burke, SD. Clausen Funeral Home was in charge of arrangements.

Richard Noahr Bailey was born on July 11, 1940, to Alvin Bailey and Tracy (Janousek) Bailey at the Bailey farmstead in Bonesteel, SD.

Richard attended school in Bonesteel and worked on local farms until he went west to Seattle where he worked for Boeing. He came back to SD and worked at various jobs until he met and married Margaret Ann Young on November 4, 1961. He and Margaret Ann had three children: Carol Ann, Vicki, and Mark. He worked for various ranchers in western SD until 1966 when he got a job with Hi Line construction in Wisconsin, a position he held for four years until he was hired by the city of Burke as city superintendent in June 1970.

As city superintendent, he was responsible for the utilities, streets, and city maintenance. During his tenure as superintendent, one of his biggest impacts was upgrading the electrical system for the City of Burke. He was an integral part of the community of Burke.

Within the community, he was a volunteer fireman for 41 years, an EMT for 40 years, and taught CPR classes for 13 years. This list does not include all the many community activities and services of which he was a part.

Richard was a master Mason, a member of Eastern Star, and attended the United Methodist Church, where he was an active member.

He was an avid golfer and hunter. He worked beside the Hutchison family in their beekeeping business. When he retired from the City of Burke, he and Margaret Ann bought a local farm which he worked on every day until his passing.

Richard loved his family more than anything. He instilled in his children and grandchildren a strong work ethic. His joy came from teaching life’s lessons such as gun safety, driving, financial responsibility and many small everyday lessons to his children, grandchildren and greatgrandchildren.

He passed away on February 12, 2023, at the age of 82.

Richard is survived by his wife of 61 years, Margaret Ann; daughters Carol Ann (Trip) Newell of Indianapolis, IN, and Vicki (Ed) White of Scott City, KS; son Richard “Mark” (Ann) Bailey of Burke, SD; ten grandchildren: Jamey (Dan) Free, Erin Newell, Spencer (Whitney) White, Levi (Rachel) White, Tyler (Sara) White, Katie (Kenny) Wall, Bailey (Trey) Davidson, Tiffany (Kristian) Ortiz, Bernadette Bailey, and Noah (Alex) Bailey; 13 great-grandchildren; five brothers; four sisters; and many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents and five siblings.