Saylor Stanton, 93, of Pierre, passed from this life on May 27^th, 2021, at Avera St. Mary’s Hospital in Pierre after a long battle with congestive heart failure. Visitation will be held from 4:30-5:30pm on Tuesday, June 1^st at Isburg Funeral Chapel followed by a Rosary at 5:30pm.  Mass of Christian Burial will be at 10:00am on Wednesday, June 2^nd at Ss. Peter and Paul Catholic Church in Pierre with burial at 3:00pm at St. Mary’s Catholic Cemetery in Bonesteel SD. For those unable to attend the services it will be live-streamed at the top of this obituary page the day of the service.

Saylor was born on April 1, 1928, in Albion, NE to William Clinton and LaVerne Versaw Stanton Because his father was a depot agent/telegrapher for the C&NW Railroad, Saylor lived in many towns along that line, including Albion, Stafford, Winatoon, Bradish, Tildon, Henderson, Bristow, NE, and St. Charles, SD. Sometimes, this meant changing schools several times a year. After they settled in Herrick, SD, he was able to complete his last three years of high school there, graduating in 1945.

After graduating, he and several “buddies” enlisted in the Merchant Marines. They were stationed near New York City. They spent their free time seeing the sights of New York, and happened to be at Times Square on V-J Day. Saylor talked often of what an experience that was!

After his release from the Merchant Marines, he returned home and worked various jobs until he enlisted in the Air Force. His basic training was at Lackland Air Base near San Antonio, TX, and was then sent to Hamilton Field near San Francisco, CA. During that time, he and the love of his life, Donna Perlenfein were married on April 25, 1949. After his release from the Air Force, they moved to Yuba City, CA where Saylor eventually owned and operated a Shell Service Station. They returned to SD, when Saylor’s father decided to build a Mobil Service Station, when Hwy. 18 was moved from the south side of Herrick to the north side, cutting through a portion of his property.

Saylor managed that station until he became interested in the cattle business, and with the help and guidance of his friend Delbert Drey, he built a herd of registered Angus cattle. He enjoyed that lifestyle, but after the severe winter of ‘68-’69, when he lost cattle to the elements, he decided to move back to CA. Saylor found employment with Dr. Jesse Carr, who lived near San Francisco, and owned a ranch near Sutter, CA. Saylor managed that ranch for the next 20 years, until Dr. Carr’s death, when the ranch was split and sold.

For the next two years, before moving to a home they had built in the foothills near Brownsville, CA they managed a mini-storage. They loved the foothills, and thought they’d be there forever until they visited Saylor’s sister, Joyce Jones and husband George in Sun City West, AZ. They liked the lifestyle of that senior community and moved there in 1992, and lived there for the next 10 years. While they enjoyed that lifestyle, they decided to move to Pierre, SD, where they could be closer to their son, Steven and daughter, Linda and family. They built a home in the Grey Goose area, and were happy to find wonderful neighbors. When Saylor found it difficult to care for the 2 ½ acres, because of back and leg problems, they sold that home and moved into an apartment in Pierre.

He is survived by his wife Donna, of 72 years, his children, Linda and husband Randy Jirsa; sons, Steven, Kelly and his wife Nancy; 5 grandchildren, 10 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his infant son, Stanley David; his parents; his brother Bill and wife Enid; his sister Joyce and husbands, George Throne and George Jones.

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