Wilk Riesland Belle Fourche, SD

Funeral service for Wilk Riesland, 73, of Belle Fourche, formerly of Hulett, WY, will be on Friday, December 10, 2004 at 10:30 a.m. at the St. James Lutheran Church in Belle Fourche, SD. Rev. Doug Clark will officiate. Burial with Full Military Honors by the Belle Fourche Honor Guard at the Black Hills National Cemetery will be at 1:30 p.m. Visitations will be from 1:00 to 7:00p.m. on Thursday, Dec. 9, at the Funeral Home of the Northern Hills in Belle Fourche and one hour prior to the service at the church on Friday morning.

WILK RIESLAND was born on October 20, 1931 at Rocky Point, WY to Kenneth and Blanche (Fleming) Riesland. He spent his childhood years on the family ranch at Rocky Point. Wilk spoke of how he rode horse to attend country school in the Rocky Point area. Wilk graduated from Campbell County High School in Gillette, WY in 1949. He served his country in the US Navy from 1951 to 1954 with part of his service spent on the Destroyer "John R. Craig" off the coast of Korea and he also provided security on the island of Guam.

As a young man, Wilk took great pride in purchasing his first and only brand, the Shield Bar. The brand is registered in Wyoming, Montana and South Dakota. This brand is known far and wide; many head of cattle carry this brand yet today. Wilk was united in marriage to Mary Ann Larson on March 26, 1957 in Rapid City, SD. They owned and leased ranches in the Tri-State area raising Line 1-bred registered horned Herefords. Wilk loved his cattle and the tasks that were involved with ranching. All of his grandchildren spent some time with him on the ranch, working and riding beside Grandpa, and having fun. A hard-worker, he dedicated his life to his family, cattle and ranch. A man who preferred to ride horseback - he rode a lot of miles, helping neighbors gather for brandings and dockings. Those who knew him, knew him as an honest man, whose word was as good as gold. Wilk also enjoyed hunting, including packing into the mountains. He was a life-long member of the VFW and the American Legion organizations. The legacy that Wilk left behind will live on forever. Wilk was a man full of action and he always had many more things to do and dreams to fulfill.

Wilk Riesland passed away on Sunday, December 5, 2004 at his home in Belle Fourche of an apparent heart attack. He spent the first part of that day doing all the things he loved to do, before he signed on to the work ranch in the great beyond.

Grateful for having shared his life are his wife, Mary Ann, of Belle Fourche, their children, Carol and husband Chuck Wood, of Gillette, WY; Raymond and wife Dallerie Riesland, of Vale, SD; Russell Riesland, of Belle Fourche, SD; and Kay and husband Mike Hill, of Chadron, NE; one sister, Anita Riesland, of Belle Fourche; grandchildren, Crystal, Nikole, Colleen, Curtis, Flint, Jade, Gabe, Isaac and Josh; great-grandchildren, Callan and Richard; and numerous nieces, nephews and many friends and neighbors. Preceding Wilk in death were his parents, one brother and two sisters. A memorial will be established by the family to benefit youth organizations in the surrounding area.

Funeral arrangements are entrusted with the Funeral Home of the Northern Hills of Belle Fourche, SD. Condolences can be sent to the family at their website, www.funeralhomeofthenorthernhills.com