FT. PIERRE –

Duane Butt,83, of Ft. Pierre passed away on Sunday, November 12, at Dow Rummel Memory Care in Sioux Falls. A visitation will be held from 6:00pm-7:00pm on Thursday, November 16 with a prayer service starting at 7:00pm at Isburg Funeral Chapel with a private family burial in Presho.

On July 14, 1940, Frank and Vera (Best) Butt welcomed their first son, Duane Dean. Duane was

born at the Winner Hospital. Duane was later joined by his brothers, Loren and James, and a

sister Mollie. Duane lived in central South Dakota on a farm for all but two years when the

family moved to Reliance, South Dakota. Duane went off to college at the School of Mines, but

decided engineering and he weren’t compatible. Duane transferred to the University of South

Dakota School of Business. In 1962 he graduated with a degree in Business Administration

majoring in accounting, a field of learning he loved. During his time in college Duane was a

member of ROTC and became a second lieutenant.

Duane met his wife Barbara Hammerbeck, also a central South Dakota girl one summer when he

was working on a well digging crew and stopped for a Coke at the Iona store. They married and

moved to Dallas, Texas. There Duane started his accounting career with Haskins and Sells.

Due to Duane’s ROTC commitment, he and Barbara moved to Fort Riley, Kansas, where he

fulfilled his military obligation as an artillery officer for two years. During this time, Duane

passed his CPA exam.

After leaving the military, he and his family moved to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, where Duane worked

for two years with McGladrey, Hansen, Dunn, and Company. Duane and his family then moved

to Sioux Falls for a career opportunity with Broeker and Hendrickson and Company. In

December, 1966, the firm asked him to open a branch office in Pierre, South Dakota, where

Duane remained until his retirement in April of 2000.

Duane provided tax and accounting services and business advice to a broad range of businesses

over his 37 years of practice. Because Duane was located in a predominantly agricultural area,

he also provided services to a significant number of farm and ranch operators. As a result of

serving clients of production level agriculture and operating a farm and ranch himself, Duane

was keenly aware of the problems and opportunities that existed in the agricultural industry.

Upon retirement, Duane formed Eaglecarver Financial Service, his own company which

continued providing business advisor services, primarily in the radio broadcast industry. During

that time Duane and Barbara spent winters in Arizona.

During all of the years of business and ranching Duane and Barbara found time to travel the

world. Many times, they took their three daughters with them which gave the girls the

opportunity to see how others lived. The whole family loved these adventures.

Duane has served as chairman of the South Dakota Industry and Commerce Association. Duane

also served as Executive Secretary of the South Dakota Building Authority for 27 years which

saw him involved with the construction of many state buildings across South Dakota such as the

Dakota Dome and the Cultural Heritage Center. These contributions and his career led to Duane

being named Alumnus of the Year at the School of Business at the University of South Dakota in

1983.

Over the course of Duane’s involvement in business, he and his wife became owners of a ranch

outside of Ft. Pierre and several radio stations across the upper midwest. This wide range of

interests found him in a variety of settings. Duane could be handling a bond issuance in New

York City and a few days later leaving the office to head to the ranch where he donned his

coveralls and began the business of helping a cow to calve. A man of many talents!

Duane’s family was his priority, and as it grew, he spent special time with his grandchildren.

Christmas walks, scooter rides, golf adventures, and family trips allowed his extended family to

appreciate his humor, generosity, and love. Duane had special and unique relationships with

each of his nine grandchildren.

Duane is survived by his wife Barbara (Hammerbeck) Butt, daughters Dihanna Fedder of Pine

City, MN; Dee Dee Schmidt of Avoca, IA; and Debra (Joe) Hayes of Sioux Falls, SD.

Grandchildren Jonathan and Jake (Jamie) Fedder, Greg (Elli), Nolan (Brooke), and Todd (Sarah)

Schmidt, Megan, Tyler (Sidney), Carter, and Ellie Hayes. Great-grandchildren Henry and Nora

Fedder;and James, Maria, Caroline, Jonah, and Teddy Schmidt. Duane also leaves behind his

brother Jim (Bernie) Butt of Murdo, SD, and Mollie (Orville) Sweet of Parkston, SD, along with

many nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents, Frank and Vera Butt, his brother Loren at the tender age of 2, infant grandson Andy Schmidt, nephew Steven Dykeman, and his brother-in-law Warren Hammerbeck.

Duane’s generous nature helped to provide assistance at many levels in his community. With this

in mind, the family invites you to make a donation to your charity of choice in Duane’s honor, in

place of sending flowers.

1. Add to favourites
2. Report abuse