PIERRE, SD – James Douglas Fischer, known to everyone as “Doug,” passed away peacefully in his sleep on Friday, May 8, 2026, at the age of 65.
A visitation will be held from 5:00-7:00pm on Sunday, May 17th at the Community Bible Church in Pierre with a prayer service starting at 6:00pm. A funeral service will be held at 11:00am on Monday, May 18th at the Community Bible Church in Pierre.
Doug was born to James and Mary Ann (Deal) Fischer on February 19, 1961, in Pierre, South Dakota.
Doug was a West River boy at heart, growing up in the Robbs Flat/Deep Creek area near the Cheyenne River. During the summers when irrigation work needed to be done, Jimmy would tie a rope around Doug’s waist and send him into the Cheyenne River to clean debris from the pipes.
The Fischers are a large family, and Doug spent much of his time with cousins getting into mischief—jumping bicycles and dirt bikes, racing cars, and competing to see who could outdo or scare the others the most. Spring brandings were much like family reunions.
Doug attended Stanley County High School, where he excelled in football and wrestling, qualifying for the state wrestling tournament his senior year. He graduated with the Class of 1979, a close-knit group that continued gathering each year for the Fourth of July Parade. Doug served as the official class parade float chauffeur for many years. As everyone got older, he even built a shade attachment for the flatbed so classmates could stay comfortable in the July heat.
Following high school, Doug served four years in the United States Army as a mechanic, working on jeeps, two-ton trucks, and five-ton trucks. During his service, he spent a year stationed in Korea.
Doug loved hunting and fishing, though he never felt he had enough time for either. This past fall, he built a coyote hunting stand to help keep one less coyote around during calving season.
Doug was a man of few words but was always willing to lend a helping hand.
In 1985, Doug married the love of his life, Dorothy Brown, in Pierre, South Dakota. Four years later, their son, Keanan, was born. During those years, Doug worked for Galen Fleming and Ron Baumgart farming and servicing tractors. In 1996, he began working for Inland Truck Parts in Fort Pierre, South Dakota, where he remained for 30 years. In 2011, Doug and Dorothy moved East River to land they had purchased in the De Grey area.
In recent years, Doug served on the Verendrye Museum Board of Directors and was also a member of the Blunt Volunteer Fire Department.
Doug was the mechanic who kept things running, and he was proud of his little cattle ranch—even if it was East River.
He is survived by his wife of 40 years, Dorothy Fischer; son, Keanan (Sheyna) Fischer; mother, Mary Ann Fischer; brother, Todd Fischer; niece, Theresa Gabriel and family; brother- and sister-in-law, Troy and Leslie Brown; niece, Brittany (Drew) Gartner and family; nephew, Boe (Misty) Brown and family; along with numerous aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his paternal grandparents, Casper and Katherine Fischer; maternal grandparents, Bud and Genevieve Deal; father, James “Jimmy” Fischer; and sister, Connie Gabriel
