Click to view Richard's Memorial Folder

Colonel Richard A. Garrity, U.S. Army, Retired, 80, of Rapid City, SD, passed away surrounded by his loving family on Friday, July 29, at the Clarkson Health Care Facility in Rapid City. Mass of Christian Burial will be 10:00 a.m. MDT on Friday, August 5, 2016 at Our Lady of the Black Hills Catholic Church in Piedmont, SD. Reverend Andrzej Wyrostek and Deacon Greg Sass will officiate. Burial will be at 1:00 p.m. MDT at the Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, SD.

Visitation will be Wednesday, August 3, 2016 beginning at 5:00 p.m. CDT with a scriptural service at 7:00 p.m. CDT at Thelen-Hyke Funeral Home in Redfield, SD.

Visitation at Our Lady of the Black Hills Catholic Church in Piedmont will take place from 5:00 - 7:00 p.m. MDT on Thursday, August 4, 2016 with a scriptural wake and rosary service at 7:00 p.m. MDT. Thelen-Hyke Funeral Home of Redfield has been entrusted with arrangements (www.thelen-hykefuneralhome.com).

Richard was born to Arthur A. and Evelyn (Anderson) Garrity on July 25, 1936 in Pierre, SD. He was the first born son and fourth child of a family of ten children. He attended school in Harrold, SD and graduated from Harrold High School in 1954.

He enlisted in the U.S. Army in July 1959 where he was selected to attend Officer Candidate School. Upon graduation from Officer Candidate School at Ft. Benning, GA in 1961, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant and was stationed in South Korea. Upon his honorable discharge from active duty in 1968, he joined the U.S. Army Reserves while he attended the University of California Berkeley and attained his bachelor's degree and Masters in Political Science. Richard continued his military career by returning to the Active U.S. Army Reserves where he was then stationed in Germany. Later in his career he was selected to attend the U.S. Army War College in Carlisle, PA. During his distinguished years of service with the U.S. Army, he advanced through the ranks of 1st Lieutenant, Captain, Major, Lt. Colonel, and Colonel. In the years prior to his retirement, he served in the U.S. Pentagon in Washington, DC. Richard retired from the U.S. Army in September 1985 and continued to work as a civilian contractor in the Pentagon for an additional 12 years.

He was a member of the Fourth Degree Knights of Columbus in Woodbridge, VA.

Richard married his dear friend, Penny Jesmer, in July 1998. They enjoyed their retirement years by traveling the world and sharing their lives with Penny's children and grandchildren along with Richard's large family. He lived for over 40 years in Virginia until his failing health brought him back to South Dakota in 2014.

Richard is survived by his wife, Penny of Honolulu, HI; his step sons David (Noelle) Jesmer of Fairfax, VA and Dwight Jesmer of Leesburg, VA; his siblings: Carol (Dan) Bancroft of Rapid City; Mike Garrity of Pierre, SD; Tom Garrity of Hoven, SD; Robert (Gloria) Garrity of Ft. Pierre, SD; Marjy Gregg of Ft. Pierre, SD; Kay (Robert) Pfeil of Clear Lake, SD; Pat Rausch of Pierre, SD; and MaryAnn (Frank) Fransen of Huron, SD; step-siblings: Renee Ihle of New Albany, OH; Harlan (Mary) Rausch of Hoven, SD; Darrel (Ruby) Rausch of Hoven, SD; Eleanor Schmidt of Hoven, SD; Vern (Sharon) Rausch of Hoven, SD; Jerry (Vicki) Rausch of Hoven, SD; Charlyn (John) Nickolas of Pierre, SD; and Janice Rausch of Aberdeen, SD and an aunt, three step grandsons, numerous nieces, nephews, cousins, and friends.

He was preceded in death by his parents; paternal and maternal grandparents; step-father, William Rausch; brother, Jim Garrity; brothers-in-law: LeRoy Rausch and Robert "Doc" Gregg; step-brothers: Duane Rausch, Virgil Rausch and Eugene Rausch; step-brothers-in-law: Larry "Lefty" Schmidt and Lu Ihle and step-daughter, Whitney Clark.

The family prefers memorials to be made to one of the following places in Richard's memory:

The Anderson Scholarship or the William-Evelyn & Alice Raush Hoven Community Foundation.

Click here to see Colonel's memorial folder

SERVICES

Wednesday, August 03, 2016
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Thelen-Hyke Funeral Home
101 East 7th Avenue
Redfield, South Dakota 57469

Wednesday, August 03, 2016
7:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Thelen-Hyke Funeral Home
101 East 7th Avenue
Redfield, South Dakota 57469

Thursday, August 04, 2016
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM

Our Lady of the Black Hills Catholic Church
12365 Sturgis Road
Piedmont, SD 57769

Thursday, August 04, 2016
7:00 PM - 7:30 PM

Our Lady of the Black Hills Catholic Church
12365 Sturgis Road
Piedmont, SD 57769

Friday, August 05, 2016
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM

Our Lady of the Black Hills Catholic Church
12365 Sturgis Road
Piedmont, SD 57769

Friday, August 05, 2016
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM

Black Hills National Cemetery
20901 Pleasant Valley Drive
Sturgis, SD 57785