Clifford Hight

Funeral services for Clifford Hight were held at 11:00 a.m. on Tuesday, December 6, 2022, at the White River Community Center in White River, SD. Burial followed in the White River Cemetery in White River, SD. Isburg Funeral Chapels of Pierre, SD, was in charge of arrangements. Clifford “Tenney” was born to Clarence and Ruth (Rhoades) Hight on October 20, 1938, in Murdo, SD. He joined his older siblings, Phyllis, Cecil, Sharley, Clarice and Curtis. Tenney lived the majority of his life in White River, SD. He was active in sports in high school and was a 1957 White River graduate. He continued being a supportive Tiger fan and went to as many games as possible.

Tenney and Iva Brown were married on August 11, 1958. To this union, three sons were born: Tenney Eugene (Gene), Ronnie, and Gary. Shortly after marriage, Tenney and Iva moved to Deadwood, SD, where he was employed with the Homestake Gold Mine. After a few years, they returned home to the ranch northeast of White River. Ranching, raising boys, and life being tough, Tenney and Iva decided to lease the ranch and move to White River. Over the years, he worked for local ranchers, George England, Lawrence and Ronnie Krogman, and Bob Derry. He decided to try a town job for a while and worked at the Gas N Git and Farmers Coop. His love of being a cowboy sent him back to the country, this time to the Stromer Ranch, where he spent 20 plus years doing what he enjoyed.

Some of Tenney’s favorite things were football, basketball, playing cards, coffee with his friends, and rodeo. He was requested by several ranchers to rope calves at brandings. Stories have been told that if you were roping with him and he saw some skills that didn’t meet his approval - well, he wouldn’t hesitate to correct you. Even though he could be stern about roping cattle, there was nothing he enjoyed more than teasing people and a good joke or prank.

From the late 60’s to early 80’s, he worked as a pickup man for rodeos run by Don Hight and Howard Beissinger. Partners for these jobs were usually Veldon Brown, Glen Hollenbeck, or Alvin Stromer. The rodeos he traveled to took him to several places in the United States and he also worked at Cheyenne Frontier Days at least two years. One year they had a rodeo in Louisville, KY. The horses went on the semi (like they did many times) but the pickup men and contractors went by plane. Tenney also enjoyed team roping and would often compete at the rodeos he attended.

Clifford Tenney Hight, 84, of White River, SD, passed away at Monument Hospital in Rapid City, SD, on November 27, 2022, due to surgery issues.

Preceding him in death are his parents, Clarence “Bud” and Ruth; his siblings, Phyllis, Cecil, Sharley, and Clarice; his in-laws, Vernon and Esther Brown, and, grandson Christopher.

Survivors are his wife, Iva; brother, Curtis of Colona, IL; sons, Gene (Lorena) Hight of White River, SD, Ronnie (Janet) Hight of White River, SD, and Gary (Kim) Hight of Douglas, WY; grandchildren: Shelsey (Shawn) Klein, Matt (Lorena) Hight, Eliot (Taylor) Hight, Justin (Nicole) Hight, Clifford (Carlos) Hight, Lee Hight, Morgan (Jake) Brenholdt, Haley (Jacob) Hight, Amber Hight, and Colton Hight; eight greatgrandchildren; and several nieces and nephews.

Memorials can be made to White River Grandstand for improvements at the rodeo grounds.