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Eugene T. ‘Bud’ Fortune

Courtesy photo
Eugene T. “Bud” Fortune |

Eugene T. “Bud” Fortune, age 83, of Quinn, SD, died Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011, at the Rapid City Regional Hospital.

Eugene “Bud” Fortune was born Sept. 22, 1927, in the Grindstone area, one of eight children born to R. A. and Francis (McCloskey) Fortune. Bud attended grade school at Lincoln Country School and Philip and Quinn High School.

Bud joined the United States Army on Dec. 7, 1951 and served in Germany. He was honorably discharged on Nov. 17, 1953 and from the U.S. Army Reserve on Jan. 10, 1960. After his discharge, Bud returned home and started ranching with his father in the Grindstone, North Whitewater and Lurcere areas.



On Sept. 23, 1959, Bud was united in marriage to Dorothy McDaniel at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church in Philip; and to this union were born four children.

Bud learned how to spay heifers at the age of 19 and spayed for many years. Most rewarding to him was the ranches he visited and the people he met. Bud worked very hard making sure every cow had enough water. Putting in windmills and pipelines and building dams was a passion. He even had two solar watering systems. He was one of the first in the country to install tire tanks.



Bud was one of the founders of the 11 Mile Roping Club, and was very proud of the success of his children and grandchildren in the rodeo arena.

Bud’s pride was ranching and building a reputation herd of Angus cattle with his family, but his true joy was watching his children and grandchildren’s accomplishments.

Survivors include: his wife Dorothy of Quinn; two sons Casey Fortune and his wife Theresa of Philip, and Wayne Fortune and his wife Kathy of Interior; two daughters Carolyn Krogman and her husband Mark of Quinn, and Wanda Pippert and her husband Scott of Sidney, MT; eleven grandchildren, Billie Jean, Grace, Buck and Bronc Pippert; Tiekola, Toyeala, Trey and Tate Fortune; Rolly and Elsie Fortune and Cayne Krogman; two great-grandchildren Yursephany and Beanett Woobring; one brother Vern Fortune and his wife Bea of Kyle; and three sisters Marie Mortellaro of Philip, Maxine Nixon of Belle Fourche, and Vera Nelson and her husband Martin of Philip.

Bud was preceded in death by his parents; two brothers John “Jack” Fortune, and Howard Fortune; and one sister, Darlene Moreland.

A closed-casket visitation was held one hour preceding services on Thursday.

Funeral services were held at 10 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 17, at the Wall Community Center, with Father Leo Hausmann officiating. Military Honors were provided by the Quinn VFW and the American Legion of Wall.

Arrangements are with the Rush Funeral Chapel of Wall. His online guestbook is available at http://www.rushfuneralhome.com.