PIERRE, SD – Michael Earl Fouts, 77, died Aug. 22nd at Avera Oahe Manor nursing home in Gettysburg following a battle with Alzheimer’s.

A Celebration of Life for Mike will be at 7:00pm on Monday, September 2nd at The Bridge Wesleyan Church. Please feel free to wear your favorite baseball shirt or jersey to the service.

There will be a visitation for one hour prior to the service at the church. Mike’s place of rest will be at Black Hills National Cemetery.

Mike was born on Nov. 12, 1946 in Council Bluffs, IA, to parents Earl Martin Fouts and Mary Ann (Morrow) Fouts. After grade school in Columbus, NE, the family moved to Grinnell, IA, where Mike graduated in 1965. In high school, Mike was a talented football and baseball athlete. Mike started playing baseball with his dad as the coach as soon as he could walk, and for the rest of his life, wasn’t ever without a ball and glove.

Mike served in the Air Force from 1966-1972 and was stationed at Ellsworth Air Force Base where he met Carolyn Williams; they married in 1968 and moved to the NATO base in Athens, Greece. While there, Mike played base-league baseball and football. His time in Greece was a highlight of his life.

In 1970, Mike, a left-handed pitcher, earned a baseball scholarship to the Univ. of Neb. Lincoln (UNL); however, after a semester, Mike traded the Husker baseball field for the SD wheat field, and they moved to the Williams Farm west of Blunt. He played SD Amateur baseball and played softball for Onida Bankwest. After a few years and a few kids, the family moved into Pierre. Mike and Carolyn had four kids together- Clinton Earl, Charis, Kara, and Michael “Mich.” In Pierre, he started the Butler business Oahe Builders and also worked as a project manager for Baumann Lumber until 1993 when they moved to Rapid City. Carolyn and Mike divorced in 1995.

In Rapid City, Mike worked for Corner Const. where he oversaw the renovation of the parking ramp, trails, and amphitheater at Mt. Rushmore. It was one of his proudest accomplishments. Well into the disease, Mike was adamant that he, in fact, helped build Mt. Rushmore! It wasn’t so bad to find a bit of humor in a dark time.

In 1997, Mike Vidal of Pete Lien & Sons offered Mike an opportunity to return to the Pierre area and manage their new cement plant. Mike ran Birdsall Sand & Gravel in Ft. Pierre, and he was proud to be a concrete guy. Mike spoke highly of his company and bosses; he was more than happy to drive you around while he pointed out the work they had done. The relationships he built with the tradesmen industry in this area were cherished. Each one of you had an impact on his life. We can attest to the fact that we’ve heard of your names and talents several times over. Mike was a true workin’ man, and he held the men and women of his profession in high regard.

Back to baseball… Throughout the late 90’s and early ‘00’s, he made several fun road trips with buddies Nick Lumby and Mike Oakland to play baseball all over SD. They also played in the Senior Olympics and in the MSBL in Arizona.

In 2003, Mike moved to Ankeny, IA to be with his long-distance love Benita Foy, a lifelong friend from Grinnell. While there, Mike worked for Manatt’s Inc. where he continued his concrete legacy until retirement in 2018. Once again, Mike continued his lifelong baseball career in the MIBL for the Urbandale, IA Twins. The grandkids often bragged to their friends, “My grandpa plays for the Twins!” Hey… they weren’t lying! He also played for the SD over 50 MABL team. He was recruited to coach and play in the over 35 league with his son Clinton… a father-son baseball bond. Clinton smiled proudly when others were in disbelief that his dad, a guy in his 60’s, just happened to be the best hitter on the team. Mike made the all-star state team and continued to play competitively until he was 68 yrs old.

No matter where Mike lived, he was a servant of his community. He was a proud member of the following: Buchanan PTA, Blunt Jaycees, Lariat Riding Club, Lilly Masonic Lodge #62, Suicude Prev. Team, and the Ft. Pierre Development Committee. Mike served as a long-time board member of the Legion Post 8 Baseball and Capital City Baseball Assoc. where he was instrumental in starting the Pony League, which today is known as Intermediate. His philosophy was that kids should have more opportunities to play. Period. He coached multiple sports his entire life- all 4 kids and hundreds of others. Whether it was baseball, football, basketball, track, or horseback riding, Mike did it all.

When Mike was around, there was not a kid in Pierre or Blunt without a baseball glove. He had a bucket of extras in the back of his pickup. If any kid hung around the ballpark who wasn’t on a team, he found them one. Mike recruited high school kids to umpire little league games, which actually meant you were “voluntold” when and where you’d be. He was a fierce defender of their calls, and fans were often warned, “Don’t you dare yell at my umps!”

The Fouts kids grew up at the ballfield, and we wouldn’t want it any other way. Mike had his ball bucket and glove wherever he went. The grandkids all knew to take their gloves along to see Grandpa Mike! Dad could tell you where the baseball park was in just about every town in SD and IA. After all, “A day is always a good one when you get to play baseball.”

No matter which hat he wore, people knew where they stood with Mike Fouts. He was selfless, a man of integrity who would drop everything to help, especially if it meant he could get his hands dirty. He was a hard-working guy who showed tough love and compassion all at the same time. And his grandkids all knew that any problem of the world could be worked out with one of Grandpa’s back rubs.

Dad, you always knew where to go to get radio reception so you could listen to the Twins play, and I bet now you’ve found the best spot yet!

Mike is preceded in death by his parents- Earl & Mary Ann Fouts; Siblings Karen, Sue, and John; nephew Ryan Michael John Ford.

Grateful to have shared his life: Children Clinton (Gina) Fouts- son Garrett (Gabriella) Spoitt, daughter Gracyn; Charis (Sean) Blanchette- sons Ivan, Steven, Marty; Kara (Boone) Brewer- kids Allyssa (Greg) Brauer, Eva Jane, Aiden; Michael “Mich” (Kelley) Fouts- daughters Aliyah, Hailley, Vinnellope, Faith; granddaughter Eve McMahon; daughter-in-law Angie (Fouts) Scherb; Sister Christine (Gene) Ford, nephew Craig (Scarlett) Ford (&kids), nieces Kelly Ford and Charlotte Ford; Partner Benita Foy; step-daughter Jennifer Fane- daughter Jaqueline Fane; honorary sister Michelle (Mike) Bales; Nephew Ajaye Williams and nieces Jessica “Birdie” (Jason) West, and Helen Jane Paxton.

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