Walter Lee Ruff

Walter L. Ruff, age 81 of Belle Fourche, died Wednesday, July 11, 2018 at the Belle Fourche Healthcare Center.

Funeral services will be held 10 am Saturday, July 14^th, 2018 at the St. James Lutheran Church in Belle Fourche.  Pastors Will Olsen and Jean Helmer will officiate.  Visitation will take place one hour prior to the service at the church.  Interment will be held in Pine Slope Cemetery in Belle Fourche.

Funeral arrangements are with Leverington Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche.

Walter Lee Ruff was born October 20, 1936 in Nisland.  He was the son of Henry and Marie (Kindsfater) Ruff.  Walter grew up on the family farm near Nisland and he was a high school graduate of the Nisland High School in 1954.  This was the last class to graduate from Nisland.  During his school days, Walter excelled in athletics, especially basketball.  He was a member of the SD State B Basketball championship team and he earned numerous awards for athletic ability. 

In the early 1970’s the family farm was purchased by the Ruff Brothers. Albert, Henry and Walter operated the farm and ranch operation for many years.  Together they raised registered purebred Angus cattle and farmed as well.  They took very good care of their farmstead.  The corn was planted in rows that were straight.  The ground was perfectly leveled for proper irrigation.  And there wasn’t a weed to be found in the crops.  He was an avid outdoorsman and he taught his nieces and nephews how to hunt and fish.

In 2013, the farm and ranch were sold and the following year Albert and Walter moved into Belle Fourche where they have lived since.  Walter was a past member of the Nisland Lions Club and Fire Department.  He was a good man, a wonderful brother, and a special uncle.  He will be greatly missed.

Walter is survived by his brother, Albert of Belle Fourche; nephews, Gene (Becky) Ruff of Nemo SD, Ray (Kris) Ruff of Spearfish; nieces, Linda (Ed) Cole of Roseburg OR, Kathy (Alan) Harvey of Belle Fourche, Donna (Eric) Stumbaugh of Tucson AZ; and numerous great and great great nieces and nephews.

He was preceded in death by his parents; sisters, Dolly Stoppel and Marie Kendrick; and 5 brothers, Raymond, Herb, Victor, Henry, and Paul.

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