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Edward Owen Priest died peacefully in the early morning of July 22 ^nd , 2022 at the Baptist Health Care Center in Bismarck ND. He was 92.

A Rosary Service will be held on August 4, 2022 at 7.00 pm at St. Mary's Catholic Church.

Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St. Mary's Catholic Church in Lemmon, SD on August 5, 2022 at 10:30 am.  Fr. Dan Juelfs will officiate with burial and military honors at Greenhill Cemetery in Lemmon.

Edward Owen Priest was born on August 1, 1929, the son of Edward Earl Priest and Noreen (Keough) Priest in Aberdeen, SD.  Ed was one of eight children.  He attended Sacred Heart (K-8th), Monroe Junior High and Central High School in Aberdeen, SD.  Ed enlisted into the United States Army Air Corp and was active duty for nine months at which time he received an honorable discharge due to being needed back at home to help support his widowed mother and younger siblings.

After his honorable discharge Ed began working multiple jobs to help support his family. These jobs included selling clothing at a retail surplus store, coaching grade school children and refereeing at the Aberdeen YMCA which is where he met and later married his wife Helen Marie Larson on June 12, 1950.     Shortly after Ed and Helen were married, they relocated to Tacoma, Washington where Ed worked and attended Barber School.  A year later Ed received a call asking him to manage a general clothing store called the Main Surplus Store back in Aberdeen SD.  That was the beginning of Ed's new career path in retail where he began managing clothing stores in both Lemmon, SD and Worthington, MN.  In 1959 Ed made the decision to own his own clothing store called Ed's Toggery, located in the old Riley Horr building of Lemmon, SD.  In 1967 a large addition was added to Ed's Toggery which sold men's and women's clothing, western clothing, shoes, fabric and even included a gift department.  His store was the largest department store within a 100 mile radius of Lemmon, SD.   In 1973 Ed continued to expand his business ventures and purchased the Lemmon Auto car dealership which he owned until its closing in 1989.  Unfortunately, a large fire occurred in 1984 destroying Ed's Toggery which led him to purchase the JC Penny store that he turned into a general department store.  Ed ended his retail career in the mid 1990's after working for a Department Store Liquidating Company.

Ed always enjoyed being very active and busy, he rarely sat still.  There was always a remodeling project in his sight whether it be directed toward his home, his store, a new pole barn or even an addition to the Steak House.  He was always happy to help his children on their home projects too.  Ed loved planting his large garden at the lake and shared his bounty with people that he knew.  He loved the outdoors and planted hundreds of trees at the lake and at his children's homes.  Ed was great in the kitchen and could often be found helping Helen with large family meals. One of his specialties was canning most of the fruits and vegetables that he grew. It's no secret that his children and grandchildren miss his delicious cooking.

After Ed's retirement, he continued to stay busy by helping his son, Patrick, with various farm and ranching chores and by working for his daughter, Colleen, at Hands on Health, Inc. until the time of his stroke in 2015.

Ed was an active member of St Mary's Church, Knights of Columbus, Lemmon Development Corporation, Lemmon Hospital Association, a member of the Hettinger Hospital Board and the Lemmon Chamber of Commerce.  In fact, he and his children made the very first Christmas decorations for Main Street in Lemmon.  Ed was a very community minded individual who thrived in business.  He always loved the opportunity to help people in any way that he could.

Ed is loved and survived by his children:  Pamela Bauer of Mahtomedi MN, Patrick Priest of Lemmon SD, Michael Priest of North Sioux City SD, Edward Priest and his wife Norie of Plainsboro NJ, Elizabeth and her husband Pat Coughlan of Denver CO, and Colleen Oliver of Lemmon SD;  13 grand children: Emily Cabaravdic (Nino), Regan Kling (Levi), Danielle Priest, Whitney Priest (fiancé  Kyle), Cameron Priest (Kaila), Maria Starling (Cayla), Laurie Parker (Matt), John Paul Yeara, Ciara Coughlan, Jesse Oliver (Kelsey), Shay Oliver, Bailey Oliver, Britt Oliver; 7 great-grandchildren; Keegan, Coy and Kale Kling,  Evianna and Dean Parker, Sidney Oliver and Gabriel Priest; one brother James Priest, sister-in-law Avis Priest (wife of brother Bob) and and brother-in-law Bill Willrodt (husband of sister Mary)..

Preceding Ed in death was his wife Helen Priest, two twin boys who died in mid pregnancy, and Mary Kay Priest who died in infancy; his parents Mr. and Mrs. Edward and Noreen Priest, brothers Bill, Bob and Francis; sisters Mary, Katherine and Peggy.

Edward Owen Priest will always be remembered as a wonderful father, grandfather and great-grandfather and will be greatly missed.