Jack A. Loughlin, age 65, longtime Perkins County rancher passed away suddenly on Monday, March 10, near Bison.


Funeral services for Jack will be held at 10:30am Friday, March 14, at the American Lutheran Church in Bison with Pastor Marjorie Hershey and Pastor Harold Delbridge, officiating.


Burial will be in the Bison Cemetery with full military honors afforded by the Roger's Smith American Legion Post #255 of Bison.


Special music will be provided by Todd and Tracy Buer, and Shawn Hight.


Serving as casketbearers are Tim Seim, Lynn Weishaar, Irwin Tescher, Boyd Ellingson, Albert Chapman, and Gary Vance. All family and friends are considered honorary bearers.


A memorial has been established.


JACK ALMEN LOUGHLIN was born August 14, 1942 at Marshall, MN to Leslie and Myrtle (Almen) Loughlin. As a small boy, he moved with his family to western SD living in Deadwood for a short time before moving to Perkins County. Jack graduated from Bison High School in 1960. At the age of 17, he enlisted into the U.S. Navy and served his country, being discharged on August 3, 1966. He lived in Belle Fourche where he worked in a machine shop and then began ranching on Rabbit Creek south of Bison. On November 20, 1970 he was united in marriage to Cheryl Wells at the American Lutheran Church in Bison. A son Max was born in 1973. They continued expanding their ranching operation over the years, working part time at Faith in addition to ranching. In 1976, they moved to Faith and began working full time for Faith Livestock. A daughter, Jacque was born in 1977. Because of their love of ranching, in 1980, they moved to the Morris Jensen ranch north of Bison on the South Grand River and raised their family. In 1992, they purchased the Almen family ranch and moved their home to west of Bison and continued to operate both places.


The important things in Jacks life were the lives of his children, grandchildren, his many friends and caring for his livestock. Jack was known for being a loving father and caretaker, this being reflected in the love his children have for him and the quality of the livestock he produced.


Jack has made many friends through the years. He had a passion for roping and enjoyed attending local Jackpots. Jack has always been a highly respected and trusted cattleman in the ranching community having been recently honored for 35 years of employment, first with Lawrence, then Gary Vance of Faith Livestock.


Keeping him in their fondest memories are his son, Max Loughlin, Hulett, WY; daughter and son-in-law, Jacque and Troy Hight, Belle Fourche, SD; 3 grandchildren, Marissa, Lauren and young Jack Loughlin Hight; Cheryl Shinabarger, Spearfish, SD; 1 brother and sister-in-law, Brett and Trish Loughlin, Belle Fourche, SD; 1 niece, Vanessa Dague and family, Belle Fourche, SD ; sister-in-law, Claudia Loughlin, Weatherford, TX; 1 nephew, Pecos Loughin and family, Texas; his mother-in-law, Esther and her husband Jim Haggart, Bison,SD; special friend, Mary Lee Hathaway, Bison, SD; and a host of friends.


He was preceded in death by his parents and 1 brother, Reed Loughlin.