Ernie Streeter

Ernest R. Streeter, age 69 of Belle Fourche, died Wednesday, May 29, 2019 at the Fort Meade VA Medical Center in Sturgis, surrounded by his loving family.

His life will be celebrated 11 am Friday, June 7, 2019 at Leverington Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche.  There will be no visitation.  Inurnment will take place in Black Hills National Cemetery, with military honors provided by the Belle Fourche Veterans Honor Guard.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to the D.C. Booth Fish Hatchery in Ernie's honor.

Ernie was born in Belle Fourche to Ike & Violet (Belverstone) Streeter.  He was the second oldest of 5 kids. He attended school at the Roosevelt School in Belle Fourche. In 1967 he was drafted into the U.S. Army, where he served 2 years in Vietnam.  He began his career in roof construction in 1969, when he established “A1 Roofing”.   Later he also worked for Brazos Roofing.  In 1998 he started driving trucks for area companies, including Tri-State Construction of Belle Fourche.  This included over the road, dump trucks, water trucks, and bentonite hauling trucks.  In 2016 he retired to focus on his fishing career, endless projects and watching his grandsons grow.

In 1979 Ernie married Shelly Cessna and to this union their son Justin was born. For the last 4 years of his life he had found his lifelong companion Connie Baier. Ernie also had a special connection with his daughter-in-law Nicole.  She was the daughter he never had.  He was always enjoyed coming over to the house to enjoy a meal she had prepared.  Ernie had a lifelong passion for fishing, tinkering, and he loved the Black Hills. Cars and motorcycles were another passion he enjoyed.  In the 1970’s he used to build motorcycles and cars to race on the weekends. He could look at any classic car and tell you the year it was made and certain characteristics about that make model and year.  Sometimes he even had a personal story that related to the numerous vehicles he owned throughout his life.

During his life, Ernie lived throughout the Midwest but Belle Fourche was always home, where he spent the last 13 years.  There were many streams, ponds, rivers, and lakes that he spent many hours catching fish out of. Sometimes he used the fish to create his own private stock ponds.  To Ernie, a friend in need is a friend indeed!!  He was usually available to lend a helping hand and his equipment to a friend or neighbor in their time of need.  He will be remembered for his strength.  He was a fighter, a modern-day gladiator.  His family called him the “Iron Man” because he fought so hard against the cancer when it came his way.  “Part of the Journey is the End”.

Ernie is survived by his son, Justin (Nicole) Streeter of Belle Fourche; his four grandsons, Michael, Dillon, Kelton, and Hudson; his partner in life for the past several years, Connie Baier of Belle Fourche; brother, Carl Streeter of Broomfield CO; and sisters, Lola (Mike) Reichert of Billings MT and Carol (John) Roggenbuck of Spearfish; numerous cousins, nieces, nephews and friends.

Ernie was preceded in death by his parents Ike and Violet, and his brother Danny.

Celebration of Life

11:00 A.M. – Friday – June 7, 2019

Leverington Funeral Home

of the Northern Hills

Belle Fourche, South Dakota

Officiant – Pastor Paul Howard

Music By

“Amazing Grace”, “When I Get Where I’m Going”,

“My Old Man”

Urnbearers

Rich Burch                                         Justin Streeter

Carl Streeter                                   Michael Streeter

Inurnment

Black Hills National Cemetery

Sturgis, South Dakota

Military Honors By

Belle Fourche Veterans Honor Guard

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