Leroy Hill

(Elmer) Leroy Hill passed away peacefully on March 12, 2015 in Rapid City Regional Hospital. The funeral service will be held 10:30 am Monday March 16, 2015 at the First Congregational United Church of Christ in Belle Fourche. Visitation will be held 3 to 7 pm Sunday, with reflections, comments and story telling at 5pm, at Leverington Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche. Inurnment will take place 1:30 pm Monday at Black Hills National Cemetery in Sturgis, with military honors provided by the Belle Fourche Veterans honor guard. Leroy was born on September 24, 1931, along with his twin sister, Marion Lorraine (Hill) Collins to then-postmaster of Newell, Elmer Roy Hill and Marion Marie (Morrill) Hill. Leroy attended grade school in Newell until the fourth grade when his father was elected Butte County Sheriff. As was customary, the sheriff's family moved into the Butte County jail where Leroy's mother served as a deputy sheriff and jailer. Leroy, always of quick humor, enjoyed telling the true story that he spent four years in jail before he got out of high school. Leroy graduated from Belle Fourche High School in 1949 and attended Yankton College until joining the U.S. Army and serving in the 45th infantry division in Korea as a Forward Observer. He saw heavy combat and lost many friends, experiences that changed the rest of his life. He was very proud of his military record and received several decorations and awards for his leadership, achieving the rank of Sergeant First Class during his twenty-two months of active service. In 2005, he returned to his former battlegrounds in Korea in a richly rewarding experience that helped mend many scars of war. He was amazed at the recovery South Korea had made since he last saw it in rubble, and was deeply moved by the appreciation and heartfelt expressions of thanks by South Koreans. Immediately upon receiving his honorable discharge after the conclusion of the Korean War, Leroy enrolled in Black Hills State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Business Administration. He joined the college debate team where he met "the love of my life," Anna Harlene Sharpe of Oacoma. In 1956, he entered the University of South Dakota School of Law at Vermillion, and he and Harlene were married March 30th,1957 in the college chapel at Yankton. He earned his doctor of law degrees in 1958. He moved to Kennebec where his first employment was in the law office of Harlene’s uncle, former South Dakota Attorney General and Governor, M.Q. Sharpe. Leroy was elected States Attorney of Lyman County in 1959 and practiced law in Kennebec until Governor Sharpe’s death in 1961. In January 1962, his growing family returned to "the beautiful Black Hills," where he and Sterling Clark formed a law partnership that existed until his death fourteen years later. Leroy was elected Butte County State’s Attorney from 1964 to 1972, then he focused exclusively on his private law practice. He showed an uncommon degree of compassion for helping others, and continued to practice law in his own law office for over 50 years, finally retiring December 31, 2014. Leroy was very active in his community throughout his life, and served as president of the Butte County Bar Association, the BHSU Alumni Association, commander of the American Legion Post, Life Member of VFW, president of the Butte County Historical Society, Boy Scoutmaster of Troop Nineteen, a life member of the Belle Fourche Congregational Church where he served many capacities from Sunday school teacher to chairman of the boards of Trustees and Deacons. Leroy is survived by his wife of 58 years Harlene; daughter Marilea (Greg) David of West Des Moines, Iowa; son Mark (Rene') of Salt Lake City, Utah, Bradley of Washington, D.C., and Rebecca (Don) Hardy of Red Lodge, Montana and three grandchildren: Sean and Hilary David and Gabriel Hill; his sister Jo (Bill) Smith and his twin sister Lorraine (Keith) Collins of Billings, and many nieces, nephews, and in-laws who will miss him greatly. He is preceded in death by his parents, his daughter-in-law May Neill (Bradley), and many dear friends.   Date of Birth September 24, 1931 – Rapid City, South Dakota   Date of Death March 12, 2015 – Rapid City, South Dakota   Memorial Service 10:30 A.M. – Monday – March 16, 2015 First Congregational United Church of Christ Belle Fourche, South Dakota   Officiant Pastor Del Neumeister   Music “His Eye is on the Sparrow, “How Great Thou Art” Marilyn Hespe, soloist Hymns – “Amazing Grace”, “In the Garden” “God Bless America” Lanelle Cundall, organist   Urnbearers Greg David                                                         Gabe Hill Sean David                                                    Don Thorson   Inurnment Black Hills National Cemetery Sturgis, South Dakota Military Honors by Belle Fourche Veterans Honor Guard