Rick Dennis

Rick Dennis was born August 20, 1955 to Harold and Ruvonne Dennis in McLaughlin, SD. He joined a sister Dana. Later siblings Lesa and Dean joined the family. In 1957, Rick’s grandfather purchased the Dinkman place that is located between Belvidere and Kadoka and the family moved there from northern South Dakota. Rick attended elementary school in Kadoka. The family moved to Kansas and later Wyoming when Rick was in middle school. By his 8th grade year they moved back to the SD ranch. He graduated from Kadoka High School in 1973. During his senior year, Rick and his team roping partner, Mitch Olney, qualified for the National High School Rodeo Finals. They made their way to Ogden, UT where they participated in the team roping event.

In 1975, Rick and his parents moved to Center, CO. There, he rode on several head of yearlings, calved cows, and even did a little farming. Later Rick sold his horses and cattle and decided to try something new. He joined his folks in Phoenix, AZ. He tried flipping houses with his dad and that adventure didn’t pan out. Rick moved to Monte Vista, CO where he worked in the parts department at a motorcycle shop. He became chief mechanic and found a new sport, racing dirt bikes. Meanwhile, his parents moved to Texas. It was pecan picking season so Rick headed south to help gather pecans. The fishing was good in the tailwaters of Buchanan Dam, TX and he decided to stay put. His next adventure was working in an upholstery shop as a refinisher, a trade that he used later in South Dakota. In 1987, Rick moved back to South Dakota and worked for his brother-in-law at the Don and Dana DeVries Ranch.

May 1, 1993 Rick married his high school classmate, Ronda (Foreman) Eckert. He helped raise Ronda’s two daughters, Lori and Bobbi Jo. Rick worked on the Iwan ranch with Ted Vobr for several years, helped out at the DeVries ranch part time, and worked at Double H Feed in Kadoka. Following the passing of Ronda’s parents, they made the move from Kadoka to Belvidere to the Foreman Ranch. Rick and Ronda shared a love to fish, camp, and spend time with the grandchildren. They enjoyed hosting family and friends for fish fries and BBQs. His love for Texas sports teams never faded; he enjoyed watching the Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers, and the Texas Longhorns.

He took on new duties in the Belvidere area. He was Belvidere Cemetery President for several years and was Assistant Fire Chief of the Belvidere Fire Department. He took great pride in keeping the cemetery well maintained and was proud of the tremendous improvements made with the fire department. Rick was also a long time Shriner and Master Mason with the Grand Lodge of Texas. Rick was a master of many trades: a self-taught guitar player and taxidermist, carpenter, roper, upholsterer, BBQ grill master, and poem/song writer. He had an incredible knack for woodworking and made anything imaginable, such as entertainment centers, jewelry boxes, quilt racks to name a few. The small pieces of wood never went to waste as he made toothpick and pencil holders..
Rick was always glad to help neighbors, friends and family. His goals in life were “never be late, work to your best ability, don’t whine, and have fun.” Rick was soft spoken and well known for his one liners. He always proclaimed, “you can learn more from listening than talking.” In a poem for his grandfather he wrote, “We rode together a time or two…and we’ll go again someday.”

Survivors include his wife of 29 years, Ronda Dennis of Belvidere; two daughters Lori (Aaron) Iversen of Murdo and Bobbi (Ben Gaylord) Eckert of Euless, TX; two grandchildren, Carter and Taya Iversen of Murdo; parents Harold and Ruvonne Dennis of Rapid City; 3 siblings, Dana (late Don DeVries) of Rapid City, Lesa (John) Eisenbraun of Rapid City, Dean (Michelle) Dennis of Memphis, TN; brother-in-law Rodney (Kim) Foreman of Hyannis, NE; 3 nieces Terri (Eric) Mueller of Rapid City, Kelli (Shane) Halls of Rapid City, Kerri (Andy) Schofield of Belvidere; 4 nephews Cory Eisenbraun and Kyle (Shiloh) Eisenbraun of Rapid City, Ryan (Paula) Foreman of Brazil, Brent (Jessica) Foreman of Thornton, CO; his dog Lucy; and a host of other relatives and friends.

Rick is preceded in death by grandparents Walter and Lucy Dennis, Ted and Pauline Burnman; his in-laws Milton and Vonnie Foreman; brother-in-law Don DeVries, nephew Mitch Foreman and his granddog Brewskie.

Memorial visitation will be held from 4-6 p.m. with a prayer service starting at 5:45 p.m. Sunday, October 16, at the Belvidere Community Church Hall.

Memorial services will be held 11:00 a.m. Monday, October 17, 2022 at the Belvidere Community Church.

Interment will follow at the Belvidere Community Cemetery.

In lieu of flowers a memorial has been established to the Belvidere Volunteer Fire Department.