Donald “Don” Olivier, age 89, of Philip, South Dakota, died on Thursday, December 12, 2024 at the Monument Health Hospital in Rapid City.
A visitation will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Thursday, December 19, 2024 with a prayer service starting at 6:30 p.m. at the American Legion Hall in Philip.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. on Friday, December 20, 2024 at the American Legion Hall in Philip with Pastor Kathy Chesney officiating.
Interment with military honors will be held at 3 p.m. on Friday, December 20, 2024 at Black Hills National Cemetery near Sturgis.
Donald Leroy Olivier was born in Todd County, SD on May 2, 1935 and was the second of five siblings born to John and Henrietta Olivier. He lived on a farm in Todd County until he was in the sixth grade when the family moved to a farm in Douglas County. He finished his formal education after eighth grade when his dad needed help on the family farm. His dad offered him the chance to hunt deer whenever he could if he would be willing to forego high school to be his hand, so Don took him up on that.
Don joined the army in January of 1955 when he was 19. He served on a missile base at Chicago Heights, IL until his honorable discharge in 1957. Don met and started dating the love of his life, at a roller skating party in 1953, and he married Donna Jean Brink in her parent’s living room on June 27, 1956. From this union, five children were born.
After Don left the army, the couple moved to a farmstead in Douglas County where they worked the land for four years. After their brief stint in farming, Don began working as a line construction worker, putting up power lines throughout the Dakotas and Montana. He got hired to weld on the dam at Fort Peck in Montana, but went back to the farm before being hired on by Brink Construction and work took the family to South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana, Nevada and Minnesota.
In 1965, Don was seriously injured in a motorcycle accident which resulted in him being hospitalized for four months. The family moved back to Corsica during this time to be closer to family as Don recovered. He worked odd jobs until he landed a job with the Bureau of Reclamation (later Western Area Power Administration) in Philip in 1966, where he worked until his retirement in January of 1995.
After retirement, he kept himself busy as a farmhand from time to time, but he mostly worked in his shop and his yard, even often having a meal ready for Donna when she came home from work for lunch. After Donna’s retirement in 1999, the couple bought a fifth wheel camper, joined a camping group and wintered in Texas for several years.
Don was a long time active member of the United Church of Philip, he was a Mason and a Shriner, the American Legion, 40 and 8, and was a member of the Eagles Club. He enjoyed hunting, fishing and playing cards and other games with his family. He loved to take his boys and his grandsons hunting. Don and Donna loved following their children, grandchildren and great grandchildren’s many activities.
Don was lovingly remembered for his famous bear hugs and infectious laugh. His greatest love was God and his family. Don died peacefully, holding Donna’s hand and surrounded by family on December 12, 2024 at Monument Hospital in Rapid City, SD.
Grateful for having shared his life are his wife of 68 & ½ years, Donna; his children, Deb (Kieth) Smith of Philip, SD, Bryan (Sharon) Olivier of Milesville, SD, Scott (Diana) Olivier of Philip, SD, Steve (Molly) Olivier of Cold Spring, MN, and Sonja Karp of Newcastle, WY; 16 grandchildren (plus spouses), 32 great-grandchildren, and 2 great-great-grandchildren. Along with brothers & sisters-in law – Darrell & Ann Brink, Sharon & Virgil Menning, Merle & Connie Brink, Jan & Kevin VanGenderen, Mary and the late Larry Brink and many loving nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his parents, John and Henrietta Olivier; 2 sisters, Loretta Vreugdenhil and Dolores VandeMinkelis; 2 brothers, Lloyd Olivier and Dennis Olivier, and their spouses; and 2 nephews, Owen VandeMinkelis and Jerry Olivier.
Cards and memorials may be sent to P.O. Box 232, Philip, SD 57567.
Arrangements are with Rush Funeral Home of Philip.
