REE HEIGHTS, SD – Chad Forman, 50, of Ree Heights, passed away Friday, March 14, 2025, near Ree Heights, doing what he loved, checking cattle.

Funeral service will be 2:00 p.m., Friday, March 21, 2025, at the Miller Community Center. Burial will follow at Morningside Cemetery in Ree Heights. Visitation will begin at 6:00 p.m., followed by a 7:00 p.m. prayer service, on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at the Miller Community Center. Following the burial, a reception will be held at the Ree Heights Auditorium.

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred.

Chad Richard Forman blazed a trail that included friends around the country and was centered by his love for family and community.

He entered the world fighting on April 20, 1974 in Huron, SD. His arrival would be the first of many times that he scared his parents, Rick & Carolyn. But, once he arrived, Chad never slowed down.

Crawling, walking, talking—Chad did everything early and with a champion’s heart.

True to his start, Chad left early when he died unexpectedly March 14, 2025 at only 50 years old.

There’s peace knowing he closed his eyes for some rest in his car while night checking and surely dreamt of the next great one he might see. We trust that Chad awoke to green pastures and treasured friends. We know he’d be back in a minute to fix our broken hearts if he could.

Chad grew roots in Hand County as a 4-H member and a proud Miller Rustler. Wrestling was his passion. Chad worked incredibly hard to be great. He earned sixth place as a freshman and third place as a sophomore in the 1989 and 1990 state wrestling tournaments.

Those placings stoked a fire, and Chad went on to earn the championship wrestling title in 1991 and 1992. Chad’s determination in the wrestling room landed him a spot at South Dakota State University where he competed for two years. It also earned him a place in the SD Wrestling Coaches Association Hall of Fame.

At college, Chad’s real passion found wings in Ron Bruns’ barn.

People in the show cattle industry know that Chad developed and grew into a highly sought-after professional. To have a “Forman steer” meant something. To have Chad Forman clip, fit, or advise on your animal meant more.

He’ll be remembered as the loudest ninja you ever met. You were never quite sure where he’d be, but you knew he’d be where you needed, and you’d know when he arrived … which was at least two hours after he “passed” the Roadside Park or the Hiway Store and always with a smile!

Chad’s barn along Highway 14 was the place where strangers became friends, friends became family, and family found home. It’s where Chad had peace and made sure his loved ones had room to do the same.

In Forman fashion, Chad even enlisted his family to wave down Sturgis bikers in the path of hailstorms over the years. Only “Cavey” could promise biker groups safety in a barn and end up showing them how to make the best of a storm!

If every great animal or banner was forgotten, Chad wouldn’t care. As much as he loved everything about the cattle business, he loved his people more.

Chad’s tough guy persona was no match for Laurilynn, their three kids, or his nieces and nephews. Chad hung the moon, captured the stars, and moved mountains for all of them.

Chad skipped a 4-H meeting in favor of hitching a horseback ride from Laurilynn. They were about 14 and have been riding together since. July 29 would have been their 30th wedding anniversary. He loved Laurilynn through the highs and loved her harder in the lows of their nearly 37 years together.

If you wanted to see Chad’s face light up and hear his voice lift, you only had to pay attention when he talked about his kids, which was every chance he could find. They were his pride and joy, even if he embarrassed them with his praise.

Chad dedicated himself to helping his kids make their dreams come true. By their account, he was the definition of selfless. Wrestling, goat tying, bull riding—the activity didn’t matter. Blade, JC, and Dale Lee never doubted their dad’s devotion; he wanted greatness for them as badly as they wanted it themselves. He was the first call for every problem, challenge, and celebration.

Still, there was room for more.

Chad watched over his little sisters, even after they were grown with their own families. He remained a stable shoreline for his brothers. Chad talked to his dad daily, and his “errands” in town were often coffee visits at his parents’. Chad adored and respected his mom and made sure others did, too.

Chad was his family’s compass, the anchor in every storm.

He found a center in his family the same way he found joy in his friends. Cattle friends, wrestling friends, hometown friends—all of them special. Yet, his pool friends held extra space in Chad’s heart. He had a passion for playing pool, so much so that he was in both Ree Heights and Highmore leagues. Chad shot pool well; he was competitive after all. Time with those friends mattered deeply to Chad.

Left heartbroken are: his wife Laurilynn; sons JC (Tia) and Blade (Trinn); daughter Dale Lee; parents Rick & Carolyn of Miller; brothers Ryan of Texas and Rocky (Mandi) of Cavour; sisters Crystal (Ryan) Ollerich of Clear Lake and Cheyann (Patrick) Johnson of Woonsocket; mother-in-law Sharon Campbell of Miller; brothers-in-law Billy (Sue) Campbell and Darrin (Shirley) Campbell; sisters-in-law Staci Campbell and Traci (Elmer) Zoss; his 13 nieces, seven nephews, and more friends than a man can count.

Preceding Chad in death were his grandparents Dick & Rose Forman and Max & Kay Martinmass, father-in-law Dale Campbell, and brothers-in-law Allen Campbell and Gene Campbell.

Reck Funeral Home of Miller has been entrusted with Chad’s arrangements.

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