Duane Friez was born March 16, 1933, to Joe and Anna (Krause) Friez in Mott North Dakota. He passed away on Sunday, March 9, 2014. Ruth Sittner Friez was born on September 26, 1936 to Peter and Martha (Mattis) Sittner in Thunder Hawk, South Dakota. She passed away on Wednesday, July 3, 2015.

Duane and Ruth were lifelong South Dakota natives and were raised in the Thunder Hawk and Lemmon area. They united in marriage on June 18, 1955 and to this union a daughter Audrey was born in 1956, and a son Wayde was born in 1958. The couple farmed in Lemmon and Thunder Hawk in the early years of their marriage and later they moved to Newell South Dakota where Duane pursued a career in banking and Ruth devoted herself to raising the children and keeping the home.


The couple later moved to Sturgis South Dakota and then to Rapid City South Dakota where Duane continued to advance in the banking industry. In 1976 Duane and Ruth moved to Glasgow Montana. It was in Glasgow that together, they chartered a new bank, Treasure State Bank, the charter of which was considered to be an exemplary charter and this charter remains on display with the state of Montana. Duane and Ruth chartered a second bank together in Glendive Montana and then moved to Minot North Dakota. It was also during this time, and while the couple lived in Minot, that Ruth pursued a short but successful career in fur sales.
Duane soon retired from banking and Ruth and Duane moved to LaFollette Tennesse where they engaged in exploring the southern culture and fishing full-time. They were able to spend precious and joyful time with their grandchildren Chelsea and Kyle during the years they lived in LaFollette. Ruth thoroughly enjoyed catching more fish and bigger fish than Duane and they kept an ongoing score of a marriage-long (50+ years) game of gin rummy. Duane and Ruth moved back to the Black Hills in 1998, and settled in Spearfish where Duane pursued a real estate career until he became disabled by Parkinson's disease. Ruth remained at home during this time and provided support and care for Duane who passed way from complications of Parkinson's disease in his home on March 9, 2014. Ruth was considering a move to Craig Colorado to be closer to her daughter and it was during a visit to Craig that she broke her hip and passed away due to complications on July 3, 2015.


Duane and Ruth leave behind a daughter Audrey and spouse Mike Thompson, a son Wayde and wife Beverly Friez; five grandchildren, Kyle and Chelsea Friez, Ryan and Katie Smith, and Cass Thompson; Ruth's sister, Alice Heinrich, Rodney and Eileen Reed, six nieces, and four nephews.


A memorial has been established to benefit the The Memorial Hospital in Craig, Colorado where Ruth received the best possible care during her convalescence. Condolences may be sent to Ruth Friez Family, 2893 Pinon Circle, Craig, CO 81625.

A graveside memorial service and interment of ashes for both Duane and Ruth will be held on August 9, 2015 at Greenhill Cemetery in Lemmon SD at 10:30 am. There will be a luncheon and memory sharing following the services at the Dakota Lodge in Lemmon.