Andrew Dana Vig was born January 10, 1958 to A. Wayne and Carole Rae Vig in Belle Fourche, SD. He joined the family of two brothers, Barry and Martin and three sisters, Susan, Lorane, Mona as the sixth child. Later, he gained another sister and brother, Lisa and Morris. He grew up on the family ranch at Opal, SD actively helping the family raise Hereford cattle and later adding Limousin cattle to the mix.
Andrew attended grades first through eighth at the Opal School in a class of five. The Opal School was 4 miles from the ranch. Attending a country school afforded many experiences including driving home from school at a very young age when his parents had to go to the Hills on business for the day. All of the Vig kids attended the Opal School. In the 6th and 8th grades, Marty lent Andrew and Lisa his 350 Kawasaki motorcycle to ride to school at times as well. He attended Faith High School located in Faith, SD 30 miles from the ranch. The kids drove to Faith daily for high school. There, Andrew discovered a love for woodworking. Andrew had the largest wood bill ever at the high school as he spent hours designing and crafting wood furniture and décor. Many long productive evenings in high school were spent in the school shop working on his wood projects.
Andrew grew up in the Opal Community Church, a country church founded by both of his grandfathers and his great uncle. Every Sunday morning, the family went to church after a breakfast of homemade cinnamon rolls and custard. He was part of the Opal and Prairie Home Church youth group, enjoyed playing volleyball and dances at the Opal Hall.
Upon graduation from high school, Andrew enlisted in the US Army. He had jokingly he said that he enlisted to get away from milking the milk cow. He was at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri for basic training. The balance of his service was at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was a favorite of the Army officers once they discovered his talent with wood. They kept him busy crafting cabinetry and other items for their offices.
After his stint in the Army, he returned home to the ranch. He painstakingly renovated the ranch house for his parents including beautiful handcrafted walnut kitchen cabinets for his mother. This was especially meaningful to his parents as his mother Carole passed away during this time. Carole with Lisa’s help, made cinnamon rolls one last time in the kitchen, where Andrew had installed a lower counter designed for Carole to knead the dough for cinnamon rolls. During this time, Andrew and Marty each owned a boat. Sundays were spent at one of the Black Hills lakes water skiing and making memories with several friends and family.
In 1981, Andrew moved to Billings, MT. Mona and Lisa were living there. Lisa and Andrew rented a place together. Andrew drove truck over the road for his sister, Mona and brother-in-law, Gene and Mona Reichert of Gene Reichert Trucking. Lisa said Andrew was the best roommate ever (only one as well).
In the early 1980s Andrew ran a roustabout crew running pipeline in the Theodore Roosevelt National Park north Bellfield, ND for Koch Industries, with Walter and Randy Fees, Dan and Dave Fogleman.
Andrew took off on an adventure to Healey, AK in June of 1984 with Frank Slater. There they did carpentry and home building in Healey as well as some work for his cousin, Hope Vig who was living then in Anchorage. Frank and Andrew came back from Alaska in January 1985 for the Black Hills Stock Show. One time Andrew drove down to South Dakota from Alaska with his cousin, Hope Vig. The border guard after looking at the drivers licenses was puzzled. When asked if they were siblings, they responded “No”. He asked if they were married to which they responded ”no” . He didn’t ask any more questions.
In Billings, Andrew met Claire Michels. They were married on August 2, 1985 in Laurel, MT. They lived in Billings for a few years. In March of 1987 their son Logan was born.
Andrew worked in Baker, MT for a trucking company for a couple of years prior to moving to the Black Hills of South Dakota. Wanting to expand their family, Andrew, Claire, and Zona Vig travelled to Romania to adopt a child in May of 1990. Zona was a blessing with her help at this time. Two beautiful children, Dylan Ray and Aubrey Anne joined their family.
Andrew had a dream since high school shop class of starting a business offering quality hardwood, specialty hardware and other items useful for creating custom millwork in one place. In 1989, Andrew and Claire created Wood Stock Supply, Inc. focusing on offering quality products and great customer service at a competitive price. As times changed Andrew skillfully adapted his business model for Wood Stock. Later, seeing a need for haying equipment he began Vig Ag Supply and brought in haying equipment to provide a solution.
Andrew and Claire separated their lives in 1995, and continued to parent their three children the very best they could.
Andrew met Jacquee Brink at the Rimrock church singles group. He learned that she had a Graphic Design degree and hired her as the Art Director at Wood Stock Supply. They got to know each other better at work but their relationship really grew through their bike ride and campout with the church singles group. Their “private work meetings” at his house were the real clincher that led them to fall in love. They were married September 30, 2000 at Rimrock Evangelical Free Church at Johnson Siding, SD.
Their life became busier with the addition of a girl, Ahna and 5 boys, Harrison, Brinkley, Pearson, Darius and Hosea. When the kids were small, Jacquee worked at Wood Stock Supply as the Art Director. Their small children played in her office as she worked. She transitioned into the role of a stay-at-home mom.
Andrew wanted to provide for his kids the same ranching experience he had raised in the country with responsibility and work ethic. Andrew and Jacquee purchased a home and acreage near Nemo, SD. He kept very busy renovating the house and adding cattle and other animals to the place.
Andrew strived to be hardworking, strong and efficient. He also played hard when he took time away with his family, camping, boating, traveling and spending time together. A favorite thing for Andrew was to work and accomplish something great with his kids.
Faith in Christ was an important part of life for Andrew and his family. They attended Rimrock Evangelical Free Church at Johnson Siding. He was an active participant in numerous mission trips to Costa Rica. He looked forward to the next opportunity to serve God’s people and had recently returned from a mission planning trip to Costa Rica. When asked how long this last trip to Costa Rica would be, he said 4 days and 2 hours. Andrew had a close relationship with Eduardo of Incresé Ministry. Andrew had a meeting planned with Mike Hays a couple of days post-accident to plan the prospect of adding aquaponics to the Incresé Ministry.
On the afternoon of his last day, Andrew called Jacquee while driving to let her know that she was on his mind. Usually, he would call to ask what she was thinking of for dinner. Andrew lost his life and gained access to his heavenly home due to an accident at his ranch while working with his son Pearson on August 6, 2025 at his place on Nemo Road.
Andrew is survived by his loving wife, Jacquee, nine children: son, Logan of Rowlett, TX, Dylan of Billings, MT, daughter Aubrey (Alan) Vangundy of Rapid City, SD, daughter Ahna (Chad) Halvorson of Brookings, SD, sons Harrison, Pearson, Darius and Hosea of Rapid City, SD, son Brinkley of Minneapolis, MN, brother Martin, sister, Lisa Loveridge, brother Morris, granddaughters Kaylene, Kendall, numerous nieces and nep/hews and cousins.
Andrew is preceded in death by his parents, both sets of grandparents, brother: Barry, sisters: Susan, Lorane, Mona and several cousins, aunts and uncles.
A memorial has been established for the Incresé Costa Rican Ministry that Andrew and his church has been involved with for several years. Make any checks available to Rimrock Evangelical Church with a notation for this ministry. An additional memorial has been established for the Opal Community Cemetery for improvements.
Reception following the Funeral on Friday at the church
Community meal at the Opal Fire Hall after the burial.
Make memories as often you can as we know not the time we have to spend with our loved ones.
Visitation is Thursday, August 14, at 1:00 p.m. at the Rimrock E-Free Church in Rapid City.
Funeral Services are Thursday, August 14, at 3:00 p.m. at Rimrock.
Graveside Services are Friday, August 15, at 1:00 p.m. at Opal Community Cemetery.