Dennis Duane Artus was born December 20, 1940 in Deadwood, South Dakota. He was the son of Oren and Elna (Penttila) Artus. Dennis graduated from the Belle Fourche High School in 1958, and in 1962 he received his B.S. Degree from Black Hills State University. Following his high school graduation, Dennis helped construct many missile silo sites throughout the area. On August 14, 1973, he was united in marriage to Betty Moppin, in Waukegan, Illinois. Following their marriage, they moved to Washington, where Dennis worked as a Director for the Olympia Brewing Company. In 1980, Dennis earned his Masters Degree in Management, from the Lake Forest College in Lake Forest Illinois.

In 1976, Dennis began to put his true talent to work, which was the entrepreneurial spirit of consulting businesses that needed help. For many years, Dennis purchased companies that were failing and he would fix the issues and sell them. Many times he did this with, companies located all over western America. Some were trucking firms and one was even a light bulb company. Dennis was truly talented as a business consultant.

In 2000, Dennis and Betty moved to Belle Fourche and in 2003 they wanted to live closer to their children and grandchildren, so they moved to Wisconsin. In 2020 they returned to Belle Fourche. Dennis enjoyed the outdoors and nature, and hunting and fishing were his favorite hobbies in life. He also was an intelligent man. He had a head for business, and he could fix anything that needed repair.

After a sudden diagnosis with cancer in May, Dennis went home to heaven at the age of 85 on Monday, August 17, 2026 at the Heartland Senior Living Center in Spearfish. He is survived by his wife, Betty of Belle Fourche; daughter, Rebecca (Daryl) Scheifla of Florence AZ; 2 sons, Douglas Artus of Pewaukee WI, Brent (Michelle) Artus of Pleasant Prairie WI; 8 grandchildren, Michael, Michelle, Kali, Shannon, Cameron, Aaron, Elena, Alex; 4 great grandchildren; sister, Darleen Cobb of Belle Fourche; and brother, Sherwin (Kaycie) Artus of Highland Hills CO. He was preceded in death by his parents; son, Mark Artus; daughter, Karen Miller; and brother-in-law, Jim Cobb.

A Celebration of Life Service will be held 10:30 am Monday, August 24, 2026 at the St. James Lutheran Church in Belle Fourche, with Ronda Mehrer officiating. There will be no visitation. Inurnment will take place at Pine Slope Cemetery. Friends may leave written condolences, view a video tribute, and view the funeral service on Dennis’s obituary page, located on the funeral home’s website: www.LeveringtonFH.com

In lieu of flowers, memorials are preferred to St. James Lutheran Church.

Celebration of Life Service

10:30 A.M. – Monday – August 24, 2026

St. James Lutheran Church

Belle Fourche, South Dakota

Officiant

Ronda Mehrer

Special Music

(Recorded)

“Softly As I Leave You”

“My Way”, “Old Rugged Cross”

Tributes

Douglas Artus ~ Sherwin Artus

Inurnment

Pine Slope Cemetery

Belle Fourche, South Dakota