Richard Christle

Richard H. Christle, 101, Rapid City, died Tuesday Aug. 16, 2011 at Clarkson-Mountain View Healthcare. A local Memorial Service will be held at 10:30 a.m. Friday, August 26, 2011 at Emblom-Brenny Funeral Servcie in Little Falls, MN. Interment will be in Riverside Cemetery in Royalton, MN. Richard was born October 31, 1909 on a farm three miles outside of Royalton, Minnesota to Henry and Meta (Lakin) Christle. He was educated in that area and was active in all sports. He married Lucille Bell on December 31, 1937. Richard started his own sand and gravel business in Montana. They later moved to the Wasta area during World War II to supply sand and gravel to build Ellsworth Air Force Base. He also surfaced the original road to the Badlands as well as other roads in the area. Richard was a master of the game of pool and practiced his art for many years at the Canyon Lake Senior Citizen's Center. He also enjoyed playing bridge and was an accomplished fly fisherman. He is survived by his daughter, Jane and husband James Gross, Cordova, Tennessee; two grandchildren, Julie (Alvaro) Fernandez, Friendswood, Texas and Jerold (Amanda) Gross, Spring, Texas; two great-grandchildren, Isaac Gross and Michael Fernandez; his sister Margie (Glen) Eaton, Minneapolis, Minnesota and numerous nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Lucille on January 12, 1984; three brothers, Jim, Fred, Bob and three sisters, Hazel Clarity, Jean Batzer and Beryl Woolsey. Memorial services will be 10:00 a.m., Saturday, Aug. 20, 2011 at Behrens-Wilson Funeral Home, Rapid City, SD with Sister Susan Pohl officiating. Memorials may be sent to the Canyon Lake Senior Citizen's Center, 2900 Canyon Lake Dr., Rapid City, SD, 57702 or the Shriners' Hospitals for Children, www.support.shrinershospitals.org.