Ray Edward Kidd

Ray Edward Kidd, age 81 of Belle Fourche, died Tuesday, March 21, 2023, at the Rolling Hills Healthcare Center in Belle Fourche following a recent illness.

Ray was born January 22, 1942, to Roy and Annie (Krininger) Kidd in Belle Fourche, SD.  He grew up working on the family ranch in Harding County, SD, and staying in Belle Fourche during the school year.  He graduated from Belle Fourche High School in 1960.  His first job was at Eddie's Fifth Avenue grocery store where one day he was introduced to his future wife, Josephine Silvernagel.  They were married on March 3, 1962, in Belle Fourche.  They were together 52 years, making their home in Belle Fourche where they raised their three children.  Ray worked for American Colloid for 25 years before taking early retirement in 1997.  He then worked for the Belle Fourche School District as a janitor and as the lunch truck driver before going to work in Deadwood as a slot technician.  He also worked at the Belle Fourche Area Community Center as a building superviser.  Next was one of his most enjoyable jobs in retirement, being a bus driver for Prairie Hills Transit transporting clients from Belle Fourche to the North Hills Training Center daily. Finally, he worked for several years at the Belle Fourche Landfill before retiring for good in 2019. 

Ray is survived by his children:  Clara (Pete) Kiley of Belle Fourche, SD; Leroy Kidd of New Haven, CT, and Thomas (Cindy) Kidd of Montgomer,y, IL; four grandchildren:  Morgan (Rachel) Kiley of Milbank, SD; Dylon Kiley of Sioux Falls, SD; Alexander Kiley of Arlington, VA; and Natalia Kidd of Bradley, IL; and two great grandchildren, Aspen and Lincoln Kiley of Milbank, SD.  He is also survived by his younger brother, David Kidd of Firestone CO, several cousins, nieces, and nephews, and honorary granddaughter Amythest Schwender of Belle Fourche, SD.  He was preceded in death by his wife and parents.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 10:30 am Friday, April 14, 2023, at St. Paul Catholic Church in Belle Fourche.  Visitation will be at 6:00 pm Thursday, April 13, 2023, at the church immediately followed by the vigil and rosary service at 7:00 pm. Inurnment will take place in Pine Slope Cemetery following the funeral.  Memorials may be made to Belle Silver Linings meal program or Who Let the Dogs Out.

Funeral arrangements are with Leverington Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche.   Ray’s funeral mass can be viewed live or afterwards by clicking on the weblink below.

Mass of Christian Burial

10:30 A.M. – Friday – April 14, 2023

St. Paul Catholic Church

Belle Fourche, South Dakota

Celebrant ~ Father Kevin Achbach

Music

“Eye Has Not Seen”, “Be Not Afraid”,

“You Are Near”, “Song of Farewell”,

“May the Choir of Angels”

Kathy Ewing, pianist

Mary Bohlmann, cantor

Honorary Urnbearer

Amythest Schwender

Active Urnbearers

Natalia Kidd                                        Dylon Kiley

Alexander Kiley                            Morgan Kiley

Inurnment

Pine Slope Cemetery

Belle Fourche, South Dakota