Ronald Dale Buskerud, 76, passed away in Gilbert, AZ on Sunday, November 26, 2023 after a brief battle with cancer. Ron was born on October 17, 1947 in Dell Rapids, SD to Orville and Luella (Pedersen) Buskerud. He grew up working long days during summers for his father’s construction company, Buskerud Construction on projects across South Dakota. Ron lettered in football and basketball, graduating from Dell Rapids High School in 1965. He attended Augustana College, Sioux Falls, SD, graduating with a Bachelor’s of Science Degree (Political Science) in 1970. He married Patricia (Patty) Huffman on February 9, 1968. Patty and Ron welcomed their daughter Pamela Sue (Pam) into their family in 1968 in Dell Rapids, SD.
Ron enlisted in the United States Army in 1970. He attended Basic Training at Fort Lewis, WA, Military Intelligence School at Fort Holabird, MD followed by 50 weeks of Korean language school at the Defense Language Institue in Washington, D.C. Ron was stationed in Korea where he was a Special Agent in Military Intelligence from August 1971 until September 1972. Ronald Gregory (Greg) was born into the family in 1972 in Dell Rapids, SD.
Ron went to work full time for Buskerud Construction in 1972 when he returned to Dell Rapids from the Army. Ann Christine was born in Dell Rapids in 1974 completing the family. While living and working in Dell Rapids, Ron was elected to four terms on the Dell Rapids City Council. Ron attended the University of South Dakota Law School as a non-traditional student, graduating with a Juris Doctorate in 1984. He practiced law in Sioux Falls and then established a law practice in Dell Rapids. Additionally, Ron served as the Dell Rapids City Attorney for four years.
In 1990, Patty, Ron and the family moved to Rapid City, where he worked as a Pennington County Deputy State’s Attorney, and subsequently as the Chief Civil Deputy Attorney for Pennington County for ten years.
Ron then served as the Administrative Assistant to the Pennington County Commission for eight years. During that time, he enjoyed lobbying at the South Dakota Legislature each year on behalf of the taxpayers and residents of Pennington County. Ron married Marcia Elkins on September 11, 1999 sharing many adventures over the next 24 years.
Following retirement from the Commission Office, Ron ran for the Pennington County Commission (District 5) in 2010. He served two terms as a Pennington County Commissioner for eight years before fully retiring. While a Commissioner, Ron served on the Board of Directors for the South Dakota Association of County Commissioners and as the President of the Black Hills Association of County Commissioners. He truly enjoyed serving on the Board of Directors for the Pennington County Senior Citizens and supporting the senior citizens in the County.
Ron loved music from an early age growing up to enjoy most the Rock and Roll of the 1950’s and 60’s. On a wager, Ron and friend Arlie Brende formed a band called Arlie’s All Stars. Neither one knew how to play guitar, so Ron took guitar lessons from Community Education in Sioux Falls. Arlie and Ron convinced talented musicians and friends, Mark Aspaas and Comet Haroldson to join them for the initial gig. Friends Bob Christensen, Brian Wirt, Dr. Ken Aspaas, Gayland Bender, Steve Samuelson, Rick Knobe and John Mogen joined the band over the next few years. Playing music and performing skits, the All Stars raised over $800,000 for Make a Wish, the Sioux Falls Shriner Burn Transportation Fund, the Avera Cancer Foundation, and other charities, all causes close to Ron’s heart. Ron was very proud that the band was inducted into the South Dakota Rock and Roll Music Association in 2011, receiving a Music in the Community Recognition Award. Ron owned and played “too many” guitars, as well as a banjo, loving music to his last day. Music spoke to Ron’s soul and he shared his love of great music with his three children.
From his teenage years, Ron could be found on the golf course where he made many great friends over the years, even scoring a hole in one at Meadowbrook Golf Course. Ron and Marcia began spending winters in Arizona in 2016 so that he could enjoy golf year round. Ron loved to read, was fascinated by American history particularly the Civil War and Old West, enjoyed a good museum – large and small – made and restored furniture for family, venturing to Spring baseball games in Florida and Arizona with friends, completing the LA Times crossword daily and building model ships, including recently starting a 9090-piece Lego Titanic model. With the purchase of his first of three Corvettes in 2019, Ron and Marcia made new friends while touring the Black Hills and Arizona, and parts in between. Ron most enjoyed sharing a story or joke with old friends and new ones, with his favorite line being “Never let the truth get in the way of a good story.” Ron was very proud of his military service and was a member of Post No. 65, The American Legion, Dell Rapids, SD for 51 years. He was also a member of Post No. 1273, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Rapid City, SD.
Ron is greatly missed by his wife, Marcia Elkins, his daughter Pam (Keith) Brockberg of Yankton, SD, son Greg (Angie) Buskerud of Rapid City, SD and daughter Ann Redwood (Daniel Turnbow) of Rapid City, SD, along with grandchildren, Patrick (Lexi) Harris, Jackson Harris, Nicholas (Tori) Harris, Garrison Brockberg, Avery Brockberg, Gracie Brockberg, Kyra Keimig, Devon Redwood and Danica Turnbow, and great-grandsons Cash Loftus and Sawyer Harris; sister, Sharon Kayser, along with six nephews who referred to him as their “fun uncle”, and furry children, Bogey and Cooper. Ron was incredibly proud of his children and grandchildren and the lives they have made with their own families.
Ron was preceded in death by his parents, Orville and Luella Buskerud, brother and sister-in-law, Terry and Veronica Buskerud, and brother-in-law Jon Kayser, as well as furry children, Max, Abbey Road, and Delaney.
A private family funeral will be held with burial at Black Hills National Cemetery. A Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. In Ron’s memory, please stop and share a story or a joke with a friend, old or new. In lieu of flowers, the family requests a memorial donation to Make A Wish South Dakota or the Humane Society of the Black Hills.