Arden E. Palmer, age 91, lifelong Faith area rancher, passed away on Wednesday evening, March 31, 2010 at the Hans P. Peterson Memorial Hospital in Philip, SD.


Funeral services will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Monday, April 5th, 2010, at the Faith Community Center. Rev. Calvin Chapman and Larry Wilson will officiate and burial will follow at the Faith Cemetery.


ARDEN EUGENE PALMER was born on December 26, 1918 on his grandparent's ranch 7 miles north of Marcus, SD to Lawrence Wayne and Doris Winnefred (Allen) Palmer. He grew up on a ranch near Marcus and attended Stranger School District #54 school northwest of Marcus. Following school he went to work for his grandparents and other ranchers herding sheep.


Arden was inducted into the US Army on July 17, 1941 and was discharged on June 7, 1943. Following his discharge, he returned to the family ranch. He met Elvira Roberta "Berta" Keegan in 1945 in Faith. They were united in marriage on October 29, 1946 at Sturgis, SD. They began their life together in a sheep wagon and working on his family ranch northwest of Marcus in Meade County. In 1949, they began operating a sheep ranch in western Ziebach County and in 1950 began working for A.J. Marks on his sheep ranches in south central Perkins County. In 1958, they purchased one of the Mark's ranches and began their own operation on Deep Creek 23 miles west and north of Faith. Arden also enjoyed working at Faith Livestock for several years.

In 1995, they retired into Faith where they continued their interest in the Faith Stock Show and Rodeo celebrations, ranch life and their many friends and acquaintances. In 2000, they were named the fans of the year for the Faith Longhorns and later were the Grand Marshals of the Faith Stock Show and Rodeo. Arden was a member of the Church of Christ.


Arden and Berta enjoyed attending their sons and grandkid's sporting activities and square dancing in the area communities. He enjoyed pitching horseshoes and was a member of the Cottonwood School Board and Faith School Board.


Grateful for sharing his life are his, sons, Jerry (Kay) Palmer of Buffalo, WY, Gary (Bambi) Palmer and Reid (Sherry) Palmer of Faith, Scott (Dawn) Palmer of Lake Norden, SD; sister, Ethel (Marlin) Ingalls, Opal; grandchildren, B.J. (Alex) Palmer, Misty Donovan, Jayme (Mark) Williams, Lex (Keri) Palmer, Sam Castonguay, Callie (Troy) Brooks, and Kyron (Lacy) Palmer; great grandchildren, Alexia Donovan, Tyus, Isabella and Kassidee Williams, Layne and Tyen Palmer, Lanny and Madison Brooks, Rylan Palmer and Levi W. J. Palmer.


In addition to his parents, Arden was preceded in death by wife, Berta on October 30, 2007, his daughter, Carmel Kay in 1965, grandson, Levi Palmer in 2004, and brothers, Frank and Everett "Ding" Palmer and his sister, Evelyn Whitman.


Visitation will be from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. on Sunday, April 4th, followed by a family service at the Faith Area Memorial Chapel in Faith, SD.


In lieu of flowers a memorial will be established to the Philip Health Services.